Rent-A-Pal

Name: Rent-A-Pal
Genre: Thriller
Released: September 11, 2020
Duration: 108 min
Rating: 61
Cast: Adrian Egolf, Amy Rutledge, Brian Landis Folkins, Josh Staab, Karin Carr

2020

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 7 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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6.8

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6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

IFC Midnight | Release Date: September 11, 2020 | NR

Starring: Adrian Egolf, Amy Rutledge, Brian Landis Folkins, Josh Staab, Karin Carr, Kathleen Brady, Luke Sorge, Olivia Hendrick, Sara Woodyard, Wil Wheaton

Summary: Set in 1990, a lonely bachelor named David (Brian Landis Folkins) searches for an escape from the day-to-day drudgery of caring for his aging mother (Kathleen Brady). While seeking a partner through a video dating service, he discovers a strange VHS tape called Rent-A-Pal. Hosted by the charming and charismatic Andy (Wil Wheaton), the tapeSet in 1990, a lonely bachelor named David (Brian Landis Folkins) searches for an escape from the day-to-day drudgery of caring for his aging mother (Kathleen Brady). While seeking a partner through a video dating service, he discovers a strange VHS tape called Rent-A-Pal. Hosted by the charming and charismatic Andy (Wil Wheaton), the tape offers him much-needed company, compassion, and friendship. But, Andy’s friendship comes at a cost, and David desperately struggles to afford the price of admission.… Expand

Director: Jon Stevenson

Genre(s): Thriller

Rating: NR

Runtime: 108 min

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Critic Reviews

RogerEbert.com Nick Allen

Sep 11, 2020

For all the nostalgia that comes with seeing David pop in a VHS tape, the movie’s time period allows Stevenson to focus our attention on the horror emitting from just one screen. Read full review

Andrew Crump

Sep 17, 2020

Wheaton is the film’s first exceptional element. The second is Stevenson’s restraint. Read full review

Frank Scheck

Sep 11, 2020

What makes the film work as well as it does, at least up to a point, are the perfectly calibrated performances. Folkins is superb as the socially maladroit Andy, making his character sympathetic in his genuine satisfaction in being a caretaker despite the personal toll it enacts. And Wheaton, whose entire performance consists of sitting in a chair and talking directly to the camera, uses his innate likeability to at first disarming and then chillingly creepy effect. Read full review

Chris Salce

Sep 12, 2020

Wil Wheaton is the true star of this film. His creepy therapist/creepy children’s TV show host take on his character was exactly what Rent-A-Pal needed. Read full review

Danette Chavez

Sep 9, 2020

Rent-A-Pal goes full-tilt mayhem in its final act, shattering its carefully calibrated dread in a race to make an already belabored point: that technological advancements are to be questioned, and there is no substitute for human connection. Read full review

Glenn Kenny

Sep 10, 2020

Eventually the movie paints itself into a corner then sinks into grisly sludge. Stevenson’s technical skill can’t save him from a trite worldview. Read full review

The Playlist Asher Luberto

Sep 12, 2020

As the film becomes more of a conventional horror flick, it also leaves unexplored the darker realities of these contemporary fears for easier, gorier thrills. Read full review

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User Reviews

beebo42

Aug 24, 2021

For once I agree with the critics on this one. The first two thirds of the movie are great. It's creepy, sad, but also comedic. I would almost call it a dark comedy, and you really want to see where it's going to go. Then the movie turns from dark comedy to just...dark. And a really meanFor once I agree with the critics on this one. The first two thirds of the movie are great. It's creepy, sad, but also comedic. I would almost call it a dark comedy, and you really want to see where it's going to go. Then the movie turns from dark comedy to just...dark. And a really mean sort of dark too. The switch in the main character just doesn't make much sense. It's almost like the writers got to the end and said, "Well, we're billing this as a horror movie, so here ya go... horror!". For the first two thirds I was wondering why no one else was talking about this movie, and then I got to the end and thought "Oh, this is why.."… Expand

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