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Room for Rent

Play trailer Poster for Room for Rent Released May 3, 2019 1h 21m Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 12 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
A lonely widow rents out a room in her house and becomes dangerously obsessed with her guest.
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Room for Rent

Critics Reviews

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Frank Scheck The Hollywood Reporter It's essential viewing for Lin Shaye fans, and that's more than enough. May 1, 2019 Full Review Richard Crouse Richard Crouse A light-hearted dark comedy about the consequences of frittering away a fortune. Rated: 3/5 Mar 1, 2021 Full Review Terry Mesnard Gayly Dreadful Room for Rent plays itself too seriously and the tone never feels more than slightly uncomfortable for most of the run time. Rated: 2/5 Jul 15, 2019 Full Review Maria Lattila Film Inquiry Room For Rent is a lovely little thriller gem, a real diamond in the rough. It's not a class A film or cinema at it's purest, but it explores some fascinating themes and one of Lin Shaye's best performances. May 24, 2019 Full Review Alex Saveliev Film Threat Tommy Stoval's unpretentious descent into madness has a mercifully short running time. Fun and chilling, this bed-and-breakfast gets an extra star for its committed hostess. Rated: 7/10 May 22, 2019 Full Review Mark R. Leeper Mark Leeper's Reviews Where the plot is going will very likely leave the viewer some guessing which path it will take. Rated: 6/10 May 17, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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SkyRo P Room for Rent (2019) is a thriller that focuses on the increasingly deranged mind of Joyce, a widow played by Lin Shaye. Shaye, who is well-known for her roles in horror films, delivers a disturbing performance here — a woman battling loneliness, delusion, and a deep need for control — making the film an unsettling character study. The story picks up when Joyce decides to rent a room in her home to Bob, played by Oliver Rayon. At first, it seems as though this might be a simple arrangement — a kind woman offering refuge to a young man in need — but it quickly becomes clear that Joyce has a much darker agenda. She starts blurring the lines between reality and her own desires, increasingly seeing Bob not as a lodger but as a surrogate son — a twisted dynamic that evolves into something far more sinister. Things take a dramatic turn when Joyce drugs Bob — using medication she obtains under false pretenses — and then crosses a boundary by kissing him and looking at him while he’s unconscious, making the chilling comment, “He’s not a boy. He’s a man.” It’s a profoundly creepy moment that underscores her descent into madness and highlights Shaye’s ability to portray a character battling her own loneliness and delusion. The film itself is a slow-burn thriller. The first half feels somewhat unfocused — nearly meandering — until the story tightens once Bob moves in. From that point forward, the film evolves into a disturbing character piece, emphasizing the psychological deterioration of its lead. The direction plays a key role in making this story effective. The filmmaker successfully guides us into Joyce’s world, making us view her not just as a monster, but as a profoundly flawed and misunderstood person who has crossed a dramatic moral line. The writing could have gone a bit further in developing the backstory and motivation for Joyce’s descent into madness, adding additional depth to her character. Nonetheless, the film is definitely worth a watch if you appreciate psychological thriller stories anchored by strong, unconventional performances. Overall, Room for Rent is a bizarre, creepy thriller — not a perfect film by any means, and not the most memorable — but it’s a piece you might find yourself thinking back on from time to time, wondering just how a person’s loneliness can manifest into something so dark. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 06/16/25 Full Review Rebecca F The movie was a good solid film. Smoothly transitions throughout and left you feeling satisfied with the storyline. I love a good movie that leaves no questions unanswered! Would encourage somebody to watch if they are trying to dip their toes into horror without being too terrified. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/01/25 Full Review nicole R This movie made me feel very uncomfortable. It really had potential but the ending? Come on! Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 08/11/24 Full Review Jeremy A Good little movie. Lin Shaye is gold 4.5 Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/18/24 Full Review Jr B I give this movie a 6.1!! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/08/24 Full Review Izzie P That's the worst effing film I've ever seen Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/19/24 Full Review Read all reviews
Room for Rent

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Movie Info

Synopsis A lonely widow rents out a room in her house and becomes dangerously obsessed with her guest.
Director
Tommy Stovall
Producer
Marc S. Sterling, Tommy Stovall
Screenwriter
Stuart Flack
Distributor
Uncork'd Entertainment
Production Co
Pasidg Productions Inc.
Genre
Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 3, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
May 7, 2019
Runtime
1h 21m
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