The Rental Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A group of friends booking an Airbnb find out that their host is a creeper with cameras, and everything goes downhill faster than a toddler on a sugar rush.

🍿 The Rental: Detailed Plot Synopsis

The Vacation Begins

Two couples, Charlie and Michelle, and Josh and Mina, embark on a weekend getaway to a remote ocean-view house they rented online. Upon arrival, tensions arise when Mina suspects racial bias from the property owner, Taylor, due to her earlier rental application being denied. Despite the initial awkwardness, they try to settle in and enjoy their vacation.

Infidelity and Hidden Cameras

As the weekend progresses, cracks begin to show in the couples’ relationships. Charlie and Mina engage in a secret sexual encounter, leading to guilt and further complications. Later, Mina discovers a hidden camera in the shower, raising concerns about their privacy and prompting a search for the source of the surveillance. They fear calling the police because of the incriminating video.

Escalation and Cover-Up

The situation escalates when Taylor returns to fix the hot tub. Mina confronts him about the camera, leading to a confrontation where Josh mistakenly assaults Taylor, knocking him unconscious. After leaving Taylor alone for a moment, the group returns to find him dead by apparent suffocation. Panicked, they decide to cover up the incident, attempting to make it look like an accidental fall from a cliff.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Charlie (Dan Stevens): A successful businessman whose infidelity triggers a series of deadly events during a weekend getaway.
• Michelle (Alison Brie): Charlie’s wife, who becomes increasingly suspicious and unravels during the rental house stay.
• Mina (Sheila Vand): Josh’s girlfriend, who faces racial bias and uncovers the hidden cameras in the rental house.
• Josh (Jeremy Allen White): Charlie’s brother, who is protective of Mina and gets caught up in the escalating violence.
• Taylor (Toby Huss): The seemingly surly and suspicious owner of the rental house who is murdered.
• Masked Killer (Anthony Molinari): The unidentified person stalking and murdering the vacationers with unknown motives.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Josh: “I’ll see you in hell!” – Josh shouts this during a moment of intense conflict and desperation, showcasing his anger and frustration before his death.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $3,500,000
• Domestic Gross: $1,637,548
• Worldwide Gross: $4,311,042

💥 The Rental Reviews

Personal Review

I went into ‘The Rental’ expecting a generic slasher, but I was pleasantly surprised. The first half builds tension really well, and I was constantly on edge. Alison Brie and Dan Stevens are fantastic, making you feel their paranoia and relationship strain. The ending was a bit abrupt, and I wanted more explanation about the killer’s motives, but overall, I enjoyed the suspenseful ride. Definitely a good watch for a thriller night!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of suspenseful thrillers”
  • “Viewers interested in modern horror that explores anxieties related to privacy.”
  • “Those who appreciate films with strong performances from a talented cast.”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Graphic violence”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Sexual content”
  • “Drug use”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “Dave Franco’s directorial debut is a decent thriller with a slow burn, creating a sense of unease effectively. The cast delivers strong performances, but the ending might leave some viewers wanting more resolution. The film explores themes of privacy and paranoia in the age of technology, which resonates with contemporary anxieties.
• The Hollywood Reporter: “While ‘The Rental’ offers a suspenseful premise and solid performances from Alison Brie and Dan Stevens, it ultimately falls short of delivering a truly satisfying horror experience. The film’s exploration of relationship tensions and the invasion of privacy are intriguing, but the lack of a clear motive for the killer diminishes the impact.

Audience Reactions

The slow burn tension and creepy atmosphere kept me guessing until the very end.: Most viewers appreciated the suspenseful buildup and solid performances, although the ambiguous ending was a point of contention for many.

Overall Consensus: ‘The Rental’ is a decent thriller with effective suspense and strong performances, but the lack of a clear motive and abrupt ending may leave some viewers unsatisfied.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Dave Franco’s directorial debut. He also co-wrote and produced the film.”
• “The movie was filmed on location in Bandon, Oregon, utilizing a real beach rental property.”
• “The film explores themes of privacy, paranoia, and the dark side of modern technology and rental services.”

🖥️ How to Watch The Rental?

The Rental is available for streaming on various platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu, where it can be rented or purchased. Check your local listings for availability on other streaming services. Physical copies on Blu-ray and DVD can be found at major retailers like Amazon and Best Buy, offering an option for those who prefer owning the film.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Rental, you might like these similar films:

• The Strangers (2008): Both films feature unsuspecting people being terrorized in a secluded home by masked intruders with unclear motives.
• Vacancy (2007): Deals with the fear of hidden surveillance in a motel, creating a similar sense of unease and paranoia.
• You’re Next (2011): Home invasion thriller where the victims fight back, but with a darker, more cynical tone regarding the characters’ relationships before the violence begins.

🛒 The Rental Related Products

• Hidden Camera Detector: Ensures peace of mind while staying in rentals. Detects hidden cameras using RF signals and magnetic fields.
• The Strangers (Blu-ray): Another home invasion thriller that shares similar themes of paranoia and vulnerability. A perfect double-feature companion.
• Lockly Vision Smart Lock: A Smart lock provides a high level of security for your home that includes a keypad, fingerprint reader, mobile app control, voice assistant compatibility, and a built-in video doorbell.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Rental features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Just Ain’t Gonna Work Out” – performed by Mayer Hawthorne

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

The Rental (2020) Ending Explained | Haunting Tube

Confused about the ending of ‘The Rental’? This video breaks it down and offers some interesting insights – I personally found the explanation of the killer’s motive super compelling!

EVERYONE IN RENT IS KINDA TERRIBLE… (feat. MATT BENNETT)

Ever thought the characters in ‘Rent’ were kind of awful? This hilarious commentary track, featuring Matt Bennett, totally agrees! It’s super funny and makes you see the movie in a whole new light.

✨ Rate