← Back to results
The Rental
2020 88 min United States of America R 18+
★5.9
Horror, Thriller
Director: Dave Franco
Trailers
EN
Teaser
EN
Description
Two couples on an oceanside getaway grow suspicious that the host of their seemingly perfect rental house may be spying on them. Before long, what should have been a celebratory weekend trip turns into something far more sinister.
Budget:
$3.5M
US Gross:
$1.64M
Worldwide:
$4.31M
Starring
Dan Stevens
Actor
Alison Brie
Actor
Sheila Vand
Actor
Awards
5 nominations total
Key opinion
The Rental serves as a polished but uneven directorial debut that excels at establishing atmospheric tension through its character-driven drama. However, many critics feel the film fails to successfully bridge its domestic relationship conflicts with a generic slasher finale, leaving the overall narrative feeling disjointed and unresolved.
| Direction | Dave Franco demonstrates a clear ability to craft an immersive, stylish atmosphere and build suspense during the film's opening acts. | |
| Acting | The performances, particularly from Dan Stevens and Alison Brie, provide a grounding, dramatic weight that elevates the material. | |
| Screenplay | The film features a jarring, unsuccessful tonal shift where the nuanced study of interpersonal betrayals is abruptly abandoned for a generic and underdeveloped slasher conclusion. | |
| Ending | The film’s reliance on tropes and the lack of a satisfying, cohesive resolution leave the audience feeling that the project serves more as a setup for a potential sequel rather than a complete story. | |
| Theme | Viewers are divided on the screenplay's effectiveness: some appreciate the grounded focus on toxic social dynamics and jealousy, while others find the characters unlikeable and the narrative incoherent. |