Rent-A-Pal

Last updated
Rent-A-Pal
Rent a pal xlg.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJon Stevenson
Written byJon Stevenson
Produced by
  • Jon Stevenson
  • J.D. Lifshitz
  • Jimmy Weber
  • Annie Elizabeth Baker
  • Robert B. Martin Jr.
  • Raphael Margules
  • Brandon Fryman
  • Brian Landis Folkins
Starring
  • Wil Wheaton
  • Brian Landis Folkins
  • Kathleen Brady
  • Amy Rutledge
  • Adrian Egolf
CinematographyScott Park
Edited byJon Stevenson
Music byJimmy Weber
Production
companies
Distributed by IFC Midnight
Release date
  • September 11, 2020 (2020-09-11)
Running time
108 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$31,053 [2]

Rent-A-Pal is a 2020 American thriller film [3] written and directed by Jon Stevenson, produced by J.D. Lifshitz, Brian Landis Folkins, Jon Stevenson, Annie Elizabeth Baker, Jimmy Weber, Robert B. Martin Jr., Brandon Fryman and Raphael Margules. It stars Wil Wheaton, Brian Landis Folkins, Kathleen Brady, Amy Rutledge, and Adrian Egolf.

Contents

Rent-A-Pal was released on September 11, 2020, by IFC Midnight, and received positive reviews from critics.

Plot

In 1990, middle-aged bachelor David Brower uses Video Rendezvous, a video dating service, while also caring for his irritable dementia-stricken mother, Lucille. His father, Frank, a jazz musician, committed suicide ten years prior. After recording a new tape at Video Rendezvous, David stumbles across a tape entitled Rent-A-Pal in the bargain bin and purchases it. The tape features host Andy who talks to the viewer and leaves pauses for the viewer to respond, simulating a conversation. David is quickly disillusioned and shuts it off.

Video Rendezvous tells David a woman named Lisa wants to match with him after watching his latest tape. When he goes to retrieve her tape, the receptionist informs him Lisa has found another match. David watches her tape and learns that she likes jazz and is a professional caregiver, which depresses him further. He continues watching Rent-A-Pal and confides in Andy that Lucille was physically abusive. David talks about his failures to find a partner, and when Andy shares a story about a girl, David becomes his friend.

David continuously watches the tape, talking, drinking, and playing cards with Andy. Andy presses David for an embarrassing story, and they swap stories about experiences with girls. David begins masturbating to Andy's story, even as Andy inexplicably tells it with David's name instead of his. Lucille catches David masturbating, but mistakes him for Frank. As she gets belligerent, David angrily tells her that her husband is dead. After she breaks down, he recants and says that Frank is alive and well.

Video Rendezvous informs David that Lisa's previous match didn't work out and that she's once again interested in him. The two go on a date and connect over their experience in caregiving. The date goes successfully, and Lisa sets up another one for the following evening. David tells Andy, but Andy accuses David of casting him aside and forgetting about their plan to play cards. David cancels his date, using his mom as an excuse.

David spends the evening interacting with Andy, but discovers that Lucille has wandered out of the house. Frantic, David calls Lisa for help. Together they find her and bring her home. David shows Lisa his room and shares his father's music with her. As they get intimate on the couch, David accidentally turns on Rent-A-Pal. Andy seems to watch David judgingly. David prematurely ejaculates when Lisa touches him, at which Andy laughs hysterically. When Lisa questions David about the tape, he gets angry and defensive, prompting her to leave.

The next morning, as David cleans the house, he finds in his mother's room a picture of him and Andy, seemingly taken during the course of the tape. He finds Lucille cutting up his tape in the kitchen, mistaking it for Scotch tape. Furious, David strikes her in the face with the tape before going out and buying another copy. After rewatching it, he picks up Lucille from the kitchen floor and takes her to the basement stairs. When she addresses him as David, he coldly tells her she's the reason that Frank killed himself, then pushes her down the stairs. All the TVs in the house begin to play Rent-A-Pal.

Lisa arrives, wanting to make amends for the previous night, and discovers Lucille's body. David confronts her while speaking like Andy and tries to keep her from calling the police. He then tries to murder her. She manages to stab him in the chest with a pair of scissors before fleeing. David drags himself into the basement and fast-forwards the tape to the end, in which Andy forlornly says goodbye to the viewer, before he bleeds out.

Cast

Release

The film was released on September 11, 2020. [4]

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 67% based on reviews from 52 critics, with an average score of 6.6/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Rent-A-Pal suffers from untapped thematic potential, but Wil Wheaton's unsettling performance makes this unique horror story worth watching." [5] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 61 out of 100, based on 7 critics, indicating "Generally Favorable reviews". [6]

Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "What makes the film work as well as it does, at least up to a point, are the perfectly calibrated performances." [4]

Accolades

Award ceremonyCategoryRecipientResultRef.
GrimmfestBest ActorBrian Landis FolkinsWon [7]
Best ScreenplayJon StevensonWon
Sunset Film Circle AwardsScene Stealer Wil Wheaton Nominated [8]
Directors to WatchJon StevensonNominated
Sitges Film Festival Best Motion PictureRent-A-PalNominated
Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival Best International Feature FilmRent-A-Pal - Jon StevensonNominated

Related Research Articles

<i>An American Werewolf in Paris</i> 1997 film

An American Werewolf in Paris is a 1997 comedy horror film directed by Anthony Waller, screenplay by Tim Burns, Tom Stern, and Waller, and starring Tom Everett Scott and Julie Delpy. It follows the general concept of, and is a sequel to, John Landis's 1981 film An American Werewolf in London. The film is an international co-production between companies from the United States, France, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.

<i>Into the Night</i> (1985 film) 1985 film by John Landis

Into the Night is a 1985 American black comedy action thriller film directed by John Landis, starring Jeff Goldblum and Michelle Pfeiffer. The film focuses on an insomniac aerospace engineer (Goldblum), who is approached by a jewel smuggler (Pfeiffer) whose life is in danger, on the run from several international foes.

<i>Oscar</i> (1991 film) 1991 film by John Landis

Oscar is a 1991 American comedy film directed by John Landis. Based on the Claude Magnier stage play, it is a remake of the 1967 French film of the same name, but set in Depression-era New York City. Oscar stars Sylvester Stallone, in a rare attempt at a comedic role, as Angelo "Snaps" Provolone, a mob boss who promises his dying father that he will leave the world of crime and become an honest businessman. Alongside Stallone, the film's cast includes Marisa Tomei, Ornella Muti, Tim Curry and Chazz Palminteri. Its score was composed by Elmer Bernstein.

<i>The Facts of Life</i> (film) 1960 film by Norman Panama, Melvin Frank

The Facts of Life is a 1960 romantic comedy starring Bob Hope and Lucille Ball as married people who have an affair. Written, directed and produced by longtime Hope associates Melvin Frank and Norman Panama, the film is more serious than many other contemporary Hope vehicles. The film features an opening animated title sequence created by Saul Bass.

<i>Race the Sun</i> (film) 1996 film

Race the Sun is a 1996 American comedy-drama film directed by Charles T. Kanganis and starring Halle Berry and James Belushi. The plot is loosely based on the true story of the Konawaena High School Solar Car Team, which finished 18th in the 1990 World Solar Challenge and first place among high school entries.

<i>Bluebeard</i> (1944 film) 1944 film by Edgar George Ulmer

Bluebeard is a 1944 film noir directed by Edgar G. Ulmer, starring John Carradine in the title role. The film also stars Jean Parker. The film is based on the famous French tale Barbe bleue that tells the story of a violent nobleman in the habit of murdering his wives and the attempts of one wife to avoid the fate of her predecessors. The film is registered in the public domain.

<i>Sleepwalk with Me</i> 2012 American film

Sleepwalk with Me is a 2012 American independent comedy film co-written by, directed by, and starring Mike Birbiglia. It also stars Lauren Ambrose, James Rebhorn, Carol Kane, and Cristin Milioti. Before making the film, Birbiglia had already told the autobiographical story of his struggles to become a stand-up comedian while dealing with REM behavior disorder and a failing relationship in a one-man show and a book.

<i>Burke & Hare</i> (2010 film) 2010 British comedy film by John Landis

Burke & Hare is a 2010 British black comedy film, loosely based on the Burke and Hare murders of 1828. Directed by John Landis from an original screenplay by Nick Moorcroft and Piers Ashworth, the film stars Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis as William Burke and William Hare respectively. It was Landis's first feature film release in 12 years, the last being 1998's Susan's Plan. The film was released in the United Kingdom on 29 October 2010.

<i>Before I Disappear</i> 2014 film

Before I Disappear is a 2014 American drama film directed by Shawn Christensen. The film is a feature-length adaptation of his 2012 Oscar-winning short film, Curfew. The film had its world premiere at South by Southwest Film on March 10, 2014. The film was acquired for distribution by IFC Films on August 5, 2014, and released on November 28, 2014.

<i>Match</i> (film) 2014 American film

Match is a 2014 American drama film written and directed by Stephen Belber, based on his 2004 play of the same name. The film stars Patrick Stewart, Carla Gugino and Matthew Lillard. The film was released on January 14, 2015, by IFC Films.

<i>The Damned</i> (2013 film) 2013 American film

The Damned, also known as Gallows Hill, is a 2013 American horror film directed by Víctor Garcia. The film stars Peter Facinelli, Sophia Myles, Nathalia Ramos, and Carolina Guerra. The film features a family and group of friends stranded in a storm and looking to seek refuge in a house inhabited by an ancient evil presence. The film was produced by Peter Block, Andrea Chung, and David Higgins, and is a joint Colombian and American production. The film had its world premiere at the Sitges Film Festival on October 17, 2014. and was released on video on demand on July 25, 2014, before a limited release by IFC Midnight on August 29, 2014.

<i>Ophelia</i> (2018 film) 2018 film by Claire McCarthy

Ophelia is a 2018 historical romantic drama film directed by Claire McCarthy and written by Semi Chellas about the character of the same name from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. Based on the novel by Lisa Klein, the film follows the story of Hamlet from Ophelia's perspective. It stars Daisy Ridley in the title role, alongside Naomi Watts, Clive Owen, George MacKay, Tom Felton and Devon Terrell. The dialogue is in modern English.

<i>The Female Brain</i> (film) 2017 American film

The Female Brain is a 2017 American comedy film directed by Whitney Cummings and written by Neal Brennan and Cummings. It is based on the 2006 book The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine. The film stars Cummings, Sofía Vergara, Toby Kebbell, James Marsden, Deon Cole, Lucy Punch, Beanie Feldstein and Cecily Strong.

<i>How to Build a Girl</i> 2019 American-British comedy film

How to Build a Girl is a 2019 coming-of-age comedy film directed by Coky Giedroyc, from a screenplay by Caitlin Moran, based on her 2014 novel of the same name. The film tells the story of Johanna Morrigan, an aspiring music journalist in 1990s Wolverhampton. It stars Beanie Feldstein, Paddy Considine, Sarah Solemani, Alfie Allen, Frank Dillane, Laurie Kynaston, Arinzé Kene, Tadhg Murphy, Ziggy Heath, Bobby Schofield, Chris O'Dowd, Joanna Scanlan and Emma Thompson.

<i>The Wedding Guest</i> (2018 film) Film by Michael Winterbottom

The Wedding Guest is a 2018 action thriller film written and directed by Michael Winterbottom. It stars Dev Patel, Radhika Apte and Jim Sarbh.

<i>Diane</i> (2018 film) 2018 American film

Diane is a 2018 American drama film written and directed by Kent Jones. The film stars Mary Kay Place, Jake Lacy, Deirdre O'Connell, Andrea Martin and Estelle Parsons. For her performance in the film, Place won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress and the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress.

<i>Summerland</i> (2020 film) 2020 film directed by Jessica Swale

Summerland is a 2020 British drama film written and directed by Jessica Swale, starring Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Lucas Bond, Dixie Egerickx, Siân Phillips, Penelope Wilton and Tom Courtenay.

<i>Made in Italy</i> (2020 film) 2020 comedy film

Made in Italy is a 2020 comedy-drama film written and directed by James D'Arcy. It stars Liam Neeson, his son, Micheál Richardson, Valeria Bilello, and Lindsay Duncan, and follows an artist who must restore a villa with his estranged son after his wife dies in a car crash.

<i>Disappearance at Clifton Hill</i> 2019 Canadian thriller film

Disappearance at Clifton Hill is a 2019 Canadian thriller film, directed by Albert Shin. The film stars Tuppence Middleton as Abby, a young woman who returns home to Niagara Falls, Ontario, when she inherits a family-owned motel in the city's Clifton Hill tourist district following her mother's death, and becomes obsessed with reconstructing inchoate childhood memories of witnessing a kidnapping.

<i>Catch the Fair One</i> 2021 American film

Catch the Fair One is a 2021 American thriller film written, directed, and produced by Josef Kubota Wladyka, based on a story by Wladyka and Kali Reis in her film debut. It stars Reis, Daniel Henshall, Tiffany Chu, Michael Drayer, Lisa Emery, Kimberly Guerrero, and Kevin Dunn. The plot follows a young American Indian woman and former boxer named Kaylee who voluntarily joins a sex trafficking ring to find her missing younger sister. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12, 2021. It was released in the United States on February 11, 2022, by IFC Films. The film was met with critical acclaim, with praise aimed towards the story and performances. At the 37th Independent Spirit Awards, Reis received a nomination for Best Female Lead.

References

  1. "Rent-A-Pal". IFC Films . Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  2. "Rent-A-Pal (2020)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  3. "IFC Midnight Acquires Retro Thriller 'Rent-A-Pal'". Deadline Hollywood . 12 May 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  4. 1 2 Frank Scheck (Sep 11, 2020). "'Rent-A-Pal': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter .
  5. "Rent-a-Pal (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  6. "Rent-A-Pal Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  7. Parfitt, Orlando (July 24, 2023). "UK's Grimmfest reveals 2020 award winners (exclusive)". Screen International .
  8. Neglia, Matt (July 24, 2023). "The 2020 Sunset Film Critics Circle Award Nominations (SFCC)". www.nextbestpicture.com.