The Rental, a Film Review
The Rental (2020) is a psychological horror film directed by Dave Franco. This R-Rated stars Dan Stevens, Alison Brie and Sheila Vand.
The Rental (2020) is a psychological horror film directed by Dave Franco. This R-Rated film includes the talents of Dan Stevens, Alison Brie, Sheila Vand, and Jeremy Allen White. It is currently available to subscribers of DirecTV, Netflix, and AMC+.
After achieving success in their business, Charlie (Dan Stevens) and Mina (Sheila Vand) bring their respective partners to a rental overlooking the coast. Josh (Jeremy Allen White), brother to Charlie and boyfriend to Mina, feels uncomfortable at how close the two are. Michelle (Alison Brie), Charlieās wife, reassures him that this dynamic is healthy and unconcerned. When it becomes clear that there are other things to worry about, the two couples become engrossed in a plot that sets out to unravel them.
What I Like
The Rental does a great job at building to the conclusion. One strategy to achieve this is establishing and nurturing the relationships between the characters. You learn their flaws and invest in their characters before the first murder.
While The Rental leads into victims of circumstances, I like how character flaws push the opportunities forward. Each character follows through on their tragic flaw, forwarding the plot to that climactic conclusion.
While there are tropes and plot contrivances, everything seems to have a purpose that supports the plot instead of reducing its quality. While far from revolutionary, it brings a unique quality to make the film feel less formulaic. However, I hesitate to say it isnāt formulaic, as there are some elements that border that line.
Finally, the movie satisfies that fear factor. While The Rental is a slow burn, requiring you to wait until the end for the satisfying shock, it pays off that delay. Yet, this pushes the limits of how slow a burn can be. If you donāt have a taste for slow build-ups, the film is hard to recommend.
Tired Tropes and Trigger Warnings
Red herrings remain a recurring device to push the plot along. While I donāt think its usage in The Rental falls in the āTired Tropesā branch, the extensive use earns a mention.
Without going into too much detail, a plot element falls into romantic tropes. Tying into infidelity, itās a tired trope awkwardly implemented into the plot. It is essential but really does feel too obvious for others not to catch on in the film. It also leads to several irrational and dumb decisions that make it more important to pull off effectively.
Racism, specifically microaggressions, establishes much of the tension in the first half of The Rent. While I find the subject matter handled with respect, and it doesnāt dive too deep, I understand this trigger remains an uncompromisable point for some viewers.
What I Dislike
Diving further into the racism in the film and how some characters handled the clear points made, I find my first issue. While the reactions are believable enough, Mina’s (the subject of the racism) indifference to Charlie’s undermining of these concerns doesn’t fit well. With how their story unfolds, it might have made more sense for another to play this unsympathetic character.
Stupid decisions advance the plot. Depending on the decision, I see this jumping between a trope or flaw. However, it happens enough times that it collectively hinders the viewing experience.
The final point to stress is that you will need to appreciate the characters to invest enough time for the thriller to follow. This isnāt to say you need to like the characters, they are all purposely flawed, but you are with them too long before the horror begins to not enjoy their drama. If that isnāt an interest of yours in a horror film, itās hard to recommend The Rental.
Final Thoughts
If you are in the mood for a slow-burning psychological thriller, The Rental makes a strong choice. This film wonāt satisfy those who want the constant thrill of the chase or horror at the center of the film. With this long delay, The Rental can’t earn a general recommendation. For those patient enough for the wait, it does provide a satisfying payoff.
(3 / 5)
Supernatural is not strictly a show about witchcraft. Or, is it?
Sam, Dean and John Winchester are not witches.
Or, are they? When you watch Supernatural as a modern witch, you realize that a lot of what the Winchester boys do during their battles to protect the world from monsters are things we do as part of our witchy routines.
Just the facts
Starting in 2005 and running until 2020 for fifteen seasons, Supernatural tells the stories of Sam and Dean Winchester as they protect the world from the forces of darkness. Together with a collection of human and otherworldly allies, they battle demons, ghosts, cryptids and all manner of horrifying dark creatures. It was one of many CW shows that delved into the darker side of the world before committing entirely to bad DC content.
What Supernatural got right
The first thing that jumps out when watching Supernatural is the metric ton of salt used in the show. Specifically, salt is used to protect against any number of ghastly things.
This is very familiar to any modern witch. We have so much salt. Black salt, red salt, blessed salt. Salt to cleanse, salt to banish, salt to protect. When I saw Dean and Sam with massive containers of kitchen salt, I felt like Iād found my people.
Then there is of course John Winchesters notebook. Or, dare I say, grimoire. This also felt familiar. And it’s one of the things I loved the most about Supernatural.
Look, we all want the big family grimoire with the lovely, flowing artwork and beautiful handwritten spells like in Charmed. But in reality, most grimoires look a lot more like the Winchester notebook, with sketches and notes shoved in and held in place with gum bands and paperclips. And while Iām not going to say that my grimoire has daring notes about demonic beings Iāve battled, it certainly has more quick sketches (mostly of plants) than it does beautiful calligraphy. This is supposed to be a useful document full of information we can reference quickly, not an art piece.
Longtime viewers of the show will point out that not only do the Winchesters not call themselves witches, but they often interact with witches. Sometimes as allies, and sometimes as enemies.
The witches in the show are pretty true to life. They are good and bad. They can be anyone, from any walks of life.
The witches use many tools modern practitioners use, including crystals, scrying mirrors and protection symbols. Honestly, they are pretty spot-on. Except for the spectacular TV magic they implement.
Finally, I want to discuss the question I asked at the start. Are the Winchesters witches?
No, theyāre not. Because they donāt claim the title. Even if someone does magic, theyāre not a witch unless they say they’re a witch. The whole point of witchcraft, after all, is personal power and personal choice.
What Supernatural got wrong
All of that being said, Supernatural was of course not a perfect depiction of witchcraft. For one thing, there is no grand coven of witches. I donāt think enough of us could agree on enough to create one.
But if we did, Stevie Nicks would be the Supreme.
Witches also donāt have to come from a long line of witches or be taught by other witches. Many of us are self-taught from books. And sadly, many of us live in communities where we might be the only witches around.
Thankfully, there are online communities from which to learn and grow. You donāt need to be a generational witch, or even have a close witch mentor. Itās a practice, and practice is all thatās required.
All in all, Supernatural is a fairly good example of modern witchcraft. The show might not be about witches, but itās a great representation.
(4 / 5)
By the way, if you like this you might enjoy my haunted apartment novella, Quiet Apocalypse. The main character is a modern witch, and I share some real magic in this fictional story of an unexpected end of the world.
Movies n TV
Evil: Genesis 1 (S1E1)
Evil: Genesis 1 (S1E1) is a supernatural drama created by Michelle King and Robert King, starring Katja Herbers & Mike Colter.
Evil: Genesis 1 (S1E1) is a supernatural drama created by Michelle King and Robert King. The central cast includes Katja Herbers, Mike Colter, Aasif Mandvi, Michael Emerson, and Christine Lahti. It originally aired under CBS before moving to Paramount+. As of this review, itās available through Netflix and Paramount+ and its add-ons. Though this series will earn nominations and awards, Iāll bring them up in relevant points or the end of the season review.
Dr. Kristen Bouchard (Katja Herbers) is a forensic psychologist struggling to financially support four daughters after losing her contract with the prosecution. When a Catholic seminarian (Mike Colter as David Acosta) offers her an opportunity to become an assessor for the Catholic church, sheās in no position to argue. Little does she know; this decision will put her in the crosshairs of Evil.
What I Like about Evil: “Genesis 1”
The cast includes heavy hitters and niche delights, such as Aasif Mandvi and Michael Emerson. Mike Colter, recently coming off of Luke Cage, brings his own star power to the cast.
Evilās Genesis 1 starts strong with its supporting villain, Darren Pettieās Orson LeRoux, who gives a calm and flowery account of his horrible crimes. Evil balances a light tone with dark material, and this performance does an expert job of setting that standard.
However, Katja Herbersās Dr. Bouchard brings the central performance to life. Genesis 1 does a great job of planting the seeds of this complex character. From her ability to get shit done to her unsatisfying life, Bouchard has plenty of traits that easily allow for empathy and understanding.
Evil balances the line between real and supernatural horror, allowing viewers to assess a situation with plausible deniability. Seeing through the eyes of a skeptic, Dr. Bouchard, amplifies the fear and trauma a demonās appearance ought to bring.
In terms of direct horror, Genesis 1 sets up what will come. It often provides an unsettling experience, building tension for future episodes. Where Genesis 1 becomes terrifying are those moments of juxtaposition, such as the initial monologue.
Tired Tropes and Triggers
While little is shown in the show of Orsenās crimes, he is a rapist and murderer. To clarify, any depictions mentioned focus more on the murder.
As David aims to become a Catholic priest and the central trio act as assessors on behalf of the Catholic church, there will be religious elements that might rub some the wrong way. An example is the shady history of the church briefly mentioned as a throwaway jab by the antagonists. However, these elements are only lightly touched upon here.
A brief seed remains planted between Kristen and David, an attraction that might indicate an infidelity. This tension plays a role within the series. In my opinion, itās handled well and adds to the complexity of the characters, but itās a point worth mentioning for those troubled by such things.
What I Dislike about Evil: “Genesis 1”
Truthfully, thereās nothing I disliked. The only potential weakness worth mentioning is that the focus on Kristen remains so dominant one might easily assume itās her story alone. Eventually, Mike Colterās David becomes a co-lead for the show. While there remains a clear purpose for this decision, itās the one gripe worth mentioning in terms of fully living up to the premise.
Another nitpick is the court procedure. Kristen gives her statement and is meant to return after new evidence to reaffirm her given statement as if they paused her testimony. Evil doesn’t explain its version of court procedure here.
Final Thoughts on Evil: “Genesis 1”
Genesis 1 provides a great foundation for Evil to thrive, sowing the seeds for future episodes to build upon. The only area that falls short remains communicating its leading cast, which future episodes aim to fix. If youāre hesitant about the series, Genesis 1 provides a great glimpse of what to expect.
(5 / 5)
My Haunted Hometown interview – Barb Dexter
To start off check out our exclusive interview with Barb Dexter from My Haunted Hometown! Prepare for spine-tingling tales as Barb Dexter unveils herĀ shockingĀ personal ghost encounters on T+E Channelās gripping paranormal series, āMy Haunted Hometownā. Donāt miss exclusive behind-the-scenes insights and emotional revelations that will leave you questioning reality. Premieres Friday, September 6th at 10 PM ET/PT.
Click the trailer for My Haunted Hometown and set your clocks for the premiere 6 Sept!
Want to know more about T+E Channel’s My Haunted Hometown?? Check out the trailer below (and make sure you watch the show as it airs Friday 6 September, 10PM PT/ET only on T+E!
If you ever wondered what it was like to be in a town with a dark history–and live in a forever home that might be forever occupied by spirit energy, then you need to check this episode out!
Why T+E Channel’s My Haunted Hometown hits
The production value works. The camera. The crew. The sound. The editing. The PR team. These are all great assets–and the best asset of them all? The people in the show.
We have all seen shows where the ghost story is made up. It’s usually some quick cash grab for a celeb (although there were some great truly well done celeb ghost stories, too!) or just some channel/content filler type thing. This is not that….this is what every ghost show should be.
The crew sits down. The people are taken seriously. They are giving a channel to voice their story and by sharing their story, they get to grow and sometimes heal from the telling. We draw strength in knowing we are not alone.
When the episode starts, your emotions range from being afraid for the people to being all warm and fuzzy with knowing that these people are opening themselves up to you and you are not alone.
If you have any paranormal experience, these stories will help you feel a bit more whole.
If you are a believer, this is your show.
If you are a doubter, this is your show. You might still doubt, but you won’t doubt that these are real down to earth people giving witness to what they saw.
See why we call the T+E Channel the Blumhouse of TV and catch the free preview onĀ T+E ChannelĀ from Sept 2 to Nov 3
The Setting
I think small towns work well as a setting. If you recall most of Seth Breedlove’s movies are SMALL Town monsters. If you recall our interview with Harker Jones’s interview the scary horror wasn’t the city of LA but the SMALL Town where you are a bit more isolated.
Not only does the setting work because of the more remote feel, but it works because of the people. The people in the show make the show. They are relatable. They are down to earth. They are easily your next best friend after moving into the neighborhood.
Also, if you are a fan of cats and dogs–there are a few of the most adorable furry friends ever in this episode.
The Rating and Where to Watch
After watching the first episode, I can’t wait for the rest! I’m sure to check it out when they drop every Friday in September! Won’t you join me? š
See what all the rave reviews are about (5/5 Cthulhu!) and see why we call the T+E Channel the Blumhouse of TV and catch the free preview onĀ T+E ChannelĀ from Sept 2 to Nov 3 ā your gateway to the supernatural! Tune in and share the thrills with #MyHauntedHometown and #TEonTV. Are you brave enough to watch?
(5 / 5)
