Touching on a familiar horror concept through fresh methods and some absolutely entrancing performances, Rent-A-Pal, Jon Stevenson’s feature directorial and writing debut, is a delightful horror offering from IFC Midnight.
Before Tinder, Match.co, or any sort of online dating/matchmaking, VHS dating in the ’80s/’90s allowed lonely people to connect with potential lovers through a quick visual slice of their personality. The service asked clients to record themselves talking about themselves on VHS and then send the tapes around to get matches. On paper, it’s a harmless idea, but in retrospect, these VHS dating tapes are the stuff of cringeworthy nightmares and it makes sense that Stevenson would utilize their creepy, gross, and deathly awkwardness as an intriguing horror premise. Don’t believe me how strange these dating VHS tapes were? See for yourself below (also, yes that guy is in a Viking costume).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bomkgXeDkE&t=
With Rent-a-Pal, Stevenson creates a unique time capsule with plenty of great nods to this era. There are plenty of bright-backgrounded dating videos that are so awkward, you can’t help but laugh a little. That nostalgic static VHS look really works in creating a very creepy persona for the film’s antagonist and the overall look of the characters and atmosphere evoke that transition from the ’80s to the ’90s. Every time the film cuts to the main video store service used throughout the film, it genuinely feels like a trip through time creating a strange and sort of eerie environment perfect for this film’s story.
The film follows David (Brian Landis Folkins), a lonely Denver dude who yearns for a relationship and an escape from his dull life of caring for his aging mother (Kathleen Brady). The second you meet David, his sense of loneliness and depression are instantly felt and it’s thanks to Folkins’ great performance here. Watching David care for his mother, who is suffering from dementia, and genuinely try to find someone so he’s not alone, makes you legitimately care about him.
Folkins adds an initially nerdy, awkward charm to David that makes him endearing—even in moments where he definitely leans into more cringy territory. Everything involving David trying to help his mom is a strong and sad look at the kind of frustration and hardships that can develop in the world of caregiving — especially in your own family. Honestly, everything with David is the perfect combination for him to fall for the charismatic charm of Andy (Wil Wheaton), a “friend” that David eventually makes.
Desperate for a deep connection, David notices a different kind of video at the VHS dating service called “Rent-a-Pal.” Thus he meets Andy, the video’s caring host who just wants to be the viewer’s friend. While he doesn’t really take it seriously at first, Andy becomes David’s best friend and David begins to devote a lot of his time to Andy. They tell secrets to one another, play Go Fish, and even share toast. However, David begins to realize that Andy’s friendship comes at a cost and his life begins to take drastic turns that blur reality. The second David puts the Rent-a-Pal video into his VCR, the horror elements amp up and Wheaton begins to entrance viewers, as well as David, with an absolutely flawless performance.
Andy’s relationship with David falls into the same vein that Chucky had over Andy Barclay in Child’s Play: subtly controlling, but so adorably charming that you wouldn’t initially realize it. He has the initial look and charisma of Mr. Rogers but has a subtle way of controlling the conversation and taking advantage of David’s devotion. Wheaton is just so damn lovable that you find yourself liking him in the same way that David does but then suddenly he’s creepy as hell. It’s such a greatly split performance that it makes you eagerly anticipate every moment he’s on-screen. His performance is truly the definition of great screen presence and it is even especially impressive how he makes Andy manipulate conversations or create this creepy undertone without really having to do much.
What makes the film so effective in upping the creepiness of David and Andy’s relationship, though, is its sense of ambiguity. There’s always this question that runs through your head of whether or not Andy is actually manipulating the conversation or if David’s loneliness is making him think Andy is something more than he really is. The film adds some strange and eerie hints throughout supporting both answers and by the end, it’s really left up in the air what exactly causes things to finally break within David. However, having no sure-fire answers doesn’t make Rent-A-Pal’s ending any less satisfying or horrifying and it’s really one of the most compelling, creepy, and memorable endings I’ve seen in the genre lately.
Nostalgia is something that is generally regarded as good, but Stevenson smartly presents a more nightmarish take on VHS nostalgia that creates one of the freshest horror flicks in recent times. With its creepy-as-hell premise, great performances from Folkins and especially Wheaton (who I’d love to see get some more highly regarded praise here for a career-best performance), and a compelling story about compulsion, Rent-A-Pal is the horror gem of 2020.
