Rent-A-Pal
Set in 1990, a lonely bachelor named David searches for an escape from the day-to-day drudgery of caring for his aging mother. While seeking a partner through a video dating service, he discovers a strange VHS tape called Rent-A-Pal. Hosted by the charming and charismatic Andy, the tape offers him much-needed company, compassion, and friendship. But Andy's friendship comes at a cost, and David desperately struggles to afford the price of admission.
Why it matters
A disturbing dive into 1990s loneliness that uses VHS horror to haunt the fragile boundary between companionship and madness.
- Anchored by Brian Landis Folkins’ quietly compelling performance as a man unraveling in isolation.
- Merges retro tech nostalgia with psychological horror, turning a dated medium into a vessel for dread.
- Explores the corrosive effects of loneliness and the human craving for connection in a pre-internet era.
- For fans of slow-burn character studies that escalate into chilling, unpredictable finales.
Director
Cast
Horror DNA
Gore
0
Slow Burn
83
Psychological
100
Supernatural
20
Creature
0
Disturbing
50
Fun Factor
17
Cerebral
71
Survival
33
