6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Set in 1990, a lonely bachelor named David (Brian Landis Folkins) searches for an escape from the day-to-day drudgery of caring for his aging mother (Kathleen Brady). 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 (Wil Wheaton), 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.
Starring: Wil Wheaton, Amy RutledgeThriller | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.40:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0
English SDH, Spanish
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
“Rent-A-Pal” is set in 1990, but it’s a relevant picture for today’s world of frustrated people dealing with isolation. This isn’t what writer/director Jon Stevenson initially intended, but he’s found a way to make a movie about today’s increasingly isolated world, creating a slow-burn chiller about one man’s decent into madness due to suffocating domestic experiences and his own distance from a functional relationship. While other filmmakers have touched on the toxic relationship between man and machine, Stevenson gets oddly specific with his writing, which turns a simple quest for VHS attention into a downward spiral of insanity. “Rent-A-Pal” has flashes of originality, and Stevenson has a good eye for casting, finding actors capable to doing something memorable with a shapeless threat. It’s not the tightest feature around, in need of more editorial pruning, but when it focuses on blurred lines of reality, it’s vividly executed with a wonderfully dark sense of humor.
The AVC encoded image (2.40:1 aspect ratio) presentation does well with facial surfaces, finding the extreme close-ups used in "Rent-A-Pal" offering interesting textures. Detail is strong with decorative additions around David's home, and visits to office spaces and a roller rink offer a full view of room space. Costuming retains fibrous qualities, including heavier denim and softer nightshirts. VHS footage is replicated with intended softness. Colors are comfortable, enjoying a brighter appearance with period hues, while scenes involving David's domestic life handle with a cooler palette, edging toward a blueish appearance. Skintones are natural. Delineation is acceptable. Mild banding and periodic blockiness is present.
The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides a clear understanding of performance choices, with a distinct difference between David's real world and his slightly muddier VHS experience. Yelling matches and assorted sonic pressure points are crisply defined. Scoring cues are compelling, with an electro sound pushing out into the surrounds, while a low-end enjoys a milder beat. Atmospherics are also circular, providing a feel for the hypnotic pull of the videotape experience and crowd bustle.
"Rent-A-Pal" isn't a nail-biter, as Stevenson takes his time with the material, resulting in an overlong movie (108 minutes) that goes slack on more than a few occasions as lengthy shots are indulged and scenes of obsessive behavior grow repetitive. Pace could be tighter, but when the picture digs into David's melting mind, it offers excellent displays of sickness. Those going into "Rent-A-Pal" expecting something evil are advised to lower expectations. Stevenson wants to keep his film as human as possible, even making the tale more about caretaker woes than mental illness. That's what keeps the endeavor compelling, as the helmer strives to avoid expectations and develop a bizarre atmosphere of trust between an unwell man and the videotape there for him in his time of need.
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