The Rental Movie Review
Written & Edited by John Darius
Now taking his talents behind the camera & marking his directoral debut, actor Dave Franco brings us a new & inventive slasher in the horror titled The Rental. Written by Dave Franco, Joe Swanberg & Mike Demski. Starring Allison Brie, Dan Stevens, Toby Huss, Sheila Vand, & Jeremey Allen White.
In this new enthralling shockingly well made thriller, tells the story of two young couples who after feeling the need of a long awaited vacation, finally decide to go on an Oceanside getaway for some family quality time. Growing suspicious that the host maybe spying on them, dark secrets slowly begin to unravel, & before long, what should have been a celebratory weekend trip, quickly turns into something far more sinister.
Now granted, the plot in itself at first may sound a bit generic for some, & fairly straightforward, but while I’m reluctant to give anything away, I’d go as far in saying that director Dave Franco does incredible work tackling some pretty heavy themes here with this new film that truthfully I originally did not anticipate going in.
One of the biggest paranoias that I’m sure has gone on in haunting many of us for years is the constant fear of being watched by unknown strangers in the comfort of our own home… Never at heart feeling secure as we’d like to be, & ultimately the sheer & utter loss of one’s own privacy.. Bringing focus on the ramifications that come with the information we choose share of ourselves with the outside world, & the growing realization of just how vulnerable that may make us to the immediate dangers that follow.
These days given the current age we live in, we’ve become so accustomed & dependent on our own technology, that unfortunately our very own ability to live without them has faded… & with that we’ve become less self-aware of our own safety in the process. Dave Franco does a wonderful job delving into these fears perfectly with this new feature & gives us a clear idea of just how utterly terrifying the world truly is underneath the surface.
Two iconic slashers that I believe may have played a heavy role in inspiring Franco’s new film is the first being a beloved fan favorite in Bryan Bertino’s The Strangers & the second of course which is known to be one of the greatest horror films to have ever reshape the genre in John Carpenter’s 1978’s Halloween. Both two widely well-loved favorites amongst fans, that have over the years gone on in becoming a worldwide phenomena & blueprint for many upcoming aspiring directors working today.
One of the reasons I mention these two films specifically is because, by the end we never truly get a clear cut explanation as to what the overall motivation maybe that helps drive the killer to perform some of the heinous acts displayed in this film, or the what relation he may possibly hold to the main characters throughout this story. Instead what we do see, is a much more disturbed portrayal of an ominous figure that finds solace in not only spying, corrupting, & blackmailing his victims, but also with the one goal in mind of breaking them down mentally enough so that in the end they eventually turn on one another. Making covering his tracks while picking off his victims one by one easier without ever being noticed by the public eye. This approach alone is something I honestly found most intriguing regarding this new horror icon beautifully crafted again by Dave Franco.
Harboring back on the work done by directors Bernito & Carpenter, the main reason I believe horror fans still hold iconic figures such as The Strangers & Michael Myers as some of the all-time best villains in slasher film history, is due to the fact that we as an audience aren’t really giving all the details right away. Leaving a lot left to the viewer’s own imagination. The feeling of not knowing… is what I believe makes these legendary icons just so terrifying at the heart of it all, & in the end is what helps make for a much more exciting worth while experience. Keeping viewers engaged with the overall plot moving forward.
Sure, some of the themes displayed in this film have been touched upon before in past horrors, but I’d say in the end it’s all about the execution that matters most, the story that’s being told, & most importantly was that story affective enough in a way that may bring light or spark conversation amongst audiences on problems our world currently faces now that sometimes may not nearly get as much attention as it should.
Dave Franco nails it on all these beats wonderfully, in such a new, reverting, & intriguing way that also pays homage to other past greats in Hush, The Purge, & even Don’t Breathe. Ultimately making for thoroughly exciting watch leaving enough interest for a possible future sequel to arise down the line. Definitely one worth checking out, & worth the price!
GRADE: B
Let us know through our twitter or Facebook page @TweetJVS what your thoughts are on the film, and whether there are other titles you may feel have tackled the themes I mentioned a bit better? Why or why not? Send us your comments & let’s discuss! Hope you all enjoyed this small review, & be on the lookout for more of our content on our Youtube Page @TeamJVS. Peace, love, & take care everyone!
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