Rent-a-Pal

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1:47

Rent-a-Pal

2020,

1h 48m,

Mystery & Thriller

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69%

54 Reviews

Tomatometer

63%

100+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

69%

Tomatometer

54 Reviews

63%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

A strange VHS tape allows a lonely bachelor named David to find companionship with Andy -- its charming and charismatic host. However, Andy's friendship comes at a cost, and David desperately struggles to afford the price of admission.

Critics Consensus

Rent-A-Pal suffers from untapped thematic potential, but Wil Wheaton's unsettling performance makes this unique horror story worth watching.

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Kimber Myers

Crooked Marquee

Nov 16, 2020

B

While [the] methods for trying to find companionship are all decades-old ... the emotions at the core of Rent-A-Pal don't feel that distant from 2020 and its digital solutions for human connection.

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Richard Whittaker

Austin Chronicle

Oct 23, 2020

2.5/5

Stevenson's script... is smart in the dialog but wavers in its structure, and could have benefited from a leaner edit before shooting.

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Nick Allen

RogerEbert.com

Sep 11, 2020

3.5/4

Wil Wheaton plays one of the scariest villains of the year in Jon Stevenson's brilliant Rent-A-Pal.

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Ashleigh Gozy

Loud and Clear Reviews

Oct 25, 2025

3/5

Despite a few flaws that keep it from truly standing out, Jon Stevenson’s debut Rent-A-Pal is a fun thriller with good performances.

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Gavin Spoors

FILMHOUNDS Magazine

Aug 4, 2025

3/5

Rent-a-Pal is another low-budget feature that has a great concept and interesting thematic ideas but is mired down by writing and tonal issues.

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Paul Lê

Nightmare on Film Street

Jul 20, 2023

9/10

Ardent, frank, and downright disturbing.

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Jon Stevenson

Director

Wil Wheaton

Andy

Brian Landis Folkins

David

Kathleen Brady

Lucille

Amy Rutledge

Lisa

Adrian Egolf

Diane

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Rent-a-Pal: Trailer 1

1:47

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Synopsis

A strange VHS tape allows a lonely bachelor named David to find companionship with Andy -- its charming and charismatic host. However, Andy's friendship comes at a cost, and David desperately struggles to afford the price of admission.

Director: Jon Stevenson
Producer: Annie Baker, Jimmy Weber, Jon Stevenson
Screenwriter: Jon Stevenson
Distributor: IFC Midnight
Production Co: Pretty People Pictures
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 11, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 11, 2020
Box Office (Gross USA): $29.6K
Runtime: 1h 48m

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