Have you ever felt so lonely that you felt that your only friends were the characters that you observe in the magic pixel box (TV)? Or perhaps those regular comforting voices in the magic talky box (radio)?
No?
Well, that's good, because being so incredibly lonely like that is enough to drive you absolutely crazy, as the movie I am reviewing will show...let's have a look at Rent-A-Pal.
The year is 1990 and a lonely bachelor by the name of David searches for an escape from the mind-numbing day-to-day drudgery that is which is his life: nothing but taking care of his poorly, aging mother. While he is searching for a partner through a video dating agency, he happens across a rather unusual VHS cassette entitled Rent-A-Pal. Hosted by the brilliantly charming and amazingly charismatic Andy, the tape offers him friendship, the one thing that lonely David ever so desperately needs. But...just like so many other good things in life...it will come at a cost to David, and he struggles to keep paying the admission for his happy life.
I have to admit that this movie was not what I expected at all, but it is really good despite how sad this movie is. A lot of people would not consider this as a horror, but it has the elements there, the psychological aspect is chilling
It is rather scary watching how David's life unravels around him, but it's sad and understandable when you think about how desperately lonely he is.
The characters are real. Really real, and that is great for this story, you could believe that these people lived next door. ...Then there's Andy...
Oh boy, Wil Wheaton is the shining glory of this movie and is absolutely brilliant as Andy in this and despite sounding like an innocent character, to begin with, is quite the character in this movie...but I feel there should have been more from him somehow...
This movie shows how loneliness can completely destroy a person, and a person does not actually have to be actually alone either. Loneliness can eat a person up and make someone completely crazy on so many levels sadly.
A gripping watch made on a low budget and tale of what extreme loneliness and pressure of having to care for someone who is long term sick, it's captivating, and essentially a must-see film. Oh, and there's a little bit right after the credits of the movie, so don't stop the movie once the credits have started