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Rent-a-Pal

Play trailer 1:47 Poster for Rent-a-Pal Released Sep 11, 2020 1h 48m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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68% Tomatometer 53 Reviews 63% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
A strange VHS tape allows a lonely bachelor named David to find companionship with Andy -- its charming and charismatic host. However, Andy's friendship comes at a cost, and David desperately struggles to afford the price of admission.
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Rent-a-Pal

Rent-a-Pal

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Critics Consensus

Rent-A-Pal suffers from untapped thematic potential, but Wil Wheaton's unsettling performance makes this unique horror story worth watching.

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Critics Reviews

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Kimber Myers Crooked Marquee While [the] methods for trying to find companionship are all decades-old ... the emotions at the core of Rent-A-Pal don't feel that distant from 2020 and its digital solutions for human connection. Rated: B Nov 16, 2020 Full Review Richard Whittaker Austin Chronicle Stevenson's script... is smart in the dialog but wavers in its structure, and could have benefited from a leaner edit before shooting. Rated: 2.5/5 Oct 23, 2020 Full Review Nick Allen RogerEbert.com Wil Wheaton plays one of the scariest villains of the year in Jon Stevenson's brilliant Rent-A-Pal. Rated: 3.5/4 Sep 11, 2020 Full Review Gavin Spoors FILMHOUNDS Magazine Rent-a-Pal is another low-budget feature that has a great concept and interesting thematic ideas but is mired down by writing and tonal issues. Rated: 3/5 Aug 4, 2025 Full Review Paul Lê Nightmare on Film Street Ardent, frank, and downright disturbing. Rated: 9/10 Jul 20, 2023 Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies Despite its wacky premise, “Rent-A-Pal” works because it doesn’t see its subject matter as a joke. Rated: 3.5/5 Aug 24, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jeff S I enjoy movies that take an unexpected turn or two. Up until 10 minutes before the end, I thought the "pal" would somehow end up being the menace. Great acting by the two main protagonists, the lonely guy and his "pal", and perfectly chosen actors for the mother and new girlfriend. I could actually see the new relationship as the way to a brighter future for all three non-pal characters. The movie built your sympathy for the lonely character up until near the end, when the reality was revealed by things going wonderfully sideways to spiral completely out of control. Only one item really went beyond the point of my ability to suspend disbelief... the mother's ability to get herself down to the basement at several key points in the movie or to get far from the house in the escape scene. I don't think so... Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/27/25 Full Review Aluna U Rent A Pal is a psychological thriller that explores the dark effects of loneliness through David’s unsettling bond with a videotaped “friend.” The film cleverly blurs the line between reality and delusion, keeping viewers intrigued and uneasy as David’s mental state deteriorates. Strong performances and a chilling, well-executed ending make this a memorable and haunting watch. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com) Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/22/25 Full Review Melissa L Weird, unique, crazy, creepy, and unsettling. If you want to watch a different kind of '80s horror...this is it. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 10/14/24 Full Review Chris G A unique, well acted musing on obsession only fails because it felt like it could have done more with its unsettling premise. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/25/24 Full Review Ricardo d Um bom roteiro, boa interpretação, só acho que peca um pouco na edição e definitivamente não deveria ser colocado como um filme de terror e sim um drama ou suspense. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 05/20/24 Full Review Miche H I recommend this movie to everyone I really liked it. I thought it was different which is rare nowadays. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/16/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Rent-a-Pal

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Movie Info

Synopsis A strange VHS tape allows a lonely bachelor named David to find companionship with Andy -- its charming and charismatic host. However, Andy's friendship comes at a cost, and David desperately struggles to afford the price of admission.
Director
Jon Stevenson
Producer
Annie Baker, Jimmy Weber, Jon Stevenson
Screenwriter
Jon Stevenson
Distributor
IFC Midnight
Production Co
Pretty People Pictures
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 11, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 11, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA)
$29.6K
Runtime
1h 48m
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