On the surface, The Rental wouldn’t have typically been a movie that I felt like I needed to watch, since it seems like generic horror fare. And, well…it kind of is. Still, though, I like horror movies a lot, so I probably would have given this a chance regardless. What drew me most to the movie, though, are the people involved in it. I’ve never been a huge Dave Franco fan, but I’ve always liked him enough that my interest was piqued to hear that he had tried his hand at directing a movie, and so The Rental is his directorial debut. The two leads in the movie are played by Dan Stevens (who I most know from the show Legion), and Alison Brie (who I adore in everything I see her in). I always like seeing both of these two, so I gave it a shot mostly on that basis.

For most of it, The Rental still can’t escape just being an average horror movie. The first two-thirds of it feels kind of generic, with a plot that’s common in a lot of movies like this. Four friends, comprised of two brothers and their romantic partners, decide to take a weekend away together by renting a beautiful house on the beach. However, the owner of the house gives off really creepy vibes, and it soon becomes apparent that they’re being watched. There’s also a complicated dynamic between the four, since one brother is having a secret affair with his brother’s girlfriend. This sub-plot doesn’t go anywhere interesting or meaningful, but it does help propel the movie into its climax.

For the first two-thirds of the movie, I was mainly enjoying it because of the actors involved, since they make it a fun time. Beyond that, The Rental doesn’t really stand on its own legs. It’s never bad or anything, it’s just that I’ve seen so many movies like this by this point. However, what I will give the movie its most credit for is that the third act is really interesting. The movie goes in certain directions that some won’t expect, and the villain of the movie is genuinely scary when he finally reveals himself. In the end, The Rental is worth it for anyone that likes horror movies, but it can definitely be skipped if you’re not a huge fan of the genre.

3/5