Disappointed that COVID-19 ruined your summer vacation plans? Well, new horror movie The Rental may make you feel a bit better about those unexpected cancellations. The directorial debut of actor Dave Franco capitalizes on the very real anxieties that the owners of Airbnb properties are secretly spying on their guests. It tells the tale of a pair of couples (Dan Stevens/Alison Brie, Sheila Vand/Jeremy Allen White-all solid) who embark on a weekend trip to a secluded Northern California oceanside home. Their wishes of having a relaxing getaway in a beautiful place are promptly destroyed as the isolated setting and some unsettling discoveries/events around the property forces them to confront the frailty of their relationships all while simultaneously having to entertain the possibility that they don't have the place to themselves.
By blending interpersonal relationship horrors with some old school slasher vibes, Franco displays an impressive command of establishing atmosphere and suspense by telling a story that gradually ups the ante. Having revelations come to light that makes these couples question their ability to trust each other adds to the mounting paranoia brought on by the weird happenings going on around the house and makes the eventual exclamation mark payoff to this slow burn tale become even more panic-inducing. The brisk 88-minute runtime does allow for some plot holes to materialize and the ending could've been more rewarding if it were just a smidge less ambiguous, but those minor script problems are largely irrelevant when they're applied to a movie that is an unnervingly tense ride that becomes more harrowing by the minute. The Rental is a lean, effective genre exercise that adds Franco to the ever-expanding list of actors turned filmmakers who appear to have bright futures ahead of them behind the camera.
By blending interpersonal relationship horrors with some old school slasher vibes, Franco displays an impressive command of establishing atmosphere and suspense by telling a story that gradually ups the ante. Having revelations come to light that makes these couples question their ability to trust each other adds to the mounting paranoia brought on by the weird happenings going on around the house and makes the eventual exclamation mark payoff to this slow burn tale become even more panic-inducing. The brisk 88-minute runtime does allow for some plot holes to materialize and the ending could've been more rewarding if it were just a smidge less ambiguous, but those minor script problems are largely irrelevant when they're applied to a movie that is an unnervingly tense ride that becomes more harrowing by the minute. The Rental is a lean, effective genre exercise that adds Franco to the ever-expanding list of actors turned filmmakers who appear to have bright futures ahead of them behind the camera.
Grade: B+
No comments:
Post a Comment