Rent-A-Pal

"He talks to you. He listens to you. He understands you."

2020 1h 48m EN

👍

6.5

SOLID

★6.5TMDB · 137

HorrorThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

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.

“He talks to you. He listens to you. He understands you.”

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Where to watch · US

PhiloSubscription

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Amazon VideoRent

Apple TV StoreRent

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Cast

Brian Landis Folkins
David
Wil Wheaton
Andy
Kathleen Brady
Lucille
Amy Rutledge
Lisa
Adrian Egolf
Diane
Olivia Hendrick
Susan
Karin Carr
Carla
Sara Woodyard
Mary

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Jon Stevenson
Writers: Jon Stevenson
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 6 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

CRAFT

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Jon Stevenson, shot by Scott Park. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Jimmy Weber. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Jon Stevenson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Brian Landis Folkins and Wil Wheaton and Kathleen Brady carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "He talks to you. He listens to you. He understands you.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt12274228 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Jon Stevenson directs. Scott Park behind the camera. Jimmy Weber scores. Jon Stevenson cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 6 years ago.
2Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
3Directed by Jon Stevenson, shot by Scott Park. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Jimmy Weber. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Jon Stevenson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Brian Landis Folkins and Wil Wheaton and Kathleen Brady carry the top of the cast.
7Marketing tagline: "He talks to you. He listens to you. He understands you.".
8IMDB entry: tt12274228 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
9Classified under 9 themes, including "bachelor", "dementia", "vhs", "psychological thriller".

The technical file

Cinematography: Scott Park
Original score: Jimmy Weber
Editing: Jon Stevenson
Production design: Brandon Fryman
Runtime: 108 min · 1h 48m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Box office: $31,053
Original language: EN
Certification (US): NR
IMDB: Rent-A-Pal (2020)

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Jon Stevenson

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Alunauwie2025-09-22
★ 10/10
Rent A Pal is a psychological thriller that explores the dark effects of loneliness through David’s unsettling bond with a videotaped “friend.” The film cleverly blurs the line between reality and delusion, keeping viewers intrigued and uneasy as David’s mental state deteriorates. Strong performances and a chilling, well-executed ending make this a memorable and haunting watch. Read the full review here: (Indonesian version : alunauwie.com)

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