Set in 1990, the trippy, weirdly homoerotic new thriller Rent-A-Pal follows a lonely straight bachelor named David (Brian Landis Folkins) as he searches for an escape from the day-to-day drudgery of caring for his aging mother (Kathleen Brady). It’s not the sunniest living situation – by far – and David is in desperate need of a friend.
While seeking a partner through a less-than-helpful video dating service, David discovers a strange discount-bin 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 – however bizarrely one-sided – comes at a cost… and David desperately struggles to afford the price of admission.
With an eerie high-concept premise and excellent performances, Rent-A-Pal resides somewhere between a pitch-black comedy, bleak kitchen sink drama, tense sci-fi thriller and gory psychological horror flick. All grown up, Stand by Me and Star Trek: The Next Generation star Wil Wheaton gives an ambiguously demented performance as a seemingly friendly video host who may have some majorly toxic issues lurking just under the surface. And while this isn’t a gay-themed film, there’s some subtle, off-kilter homoeroticism to the main relationship that grabbed our attention.
Watch the trailer for Rent-A-Pal below and click here to pre-order your copy. The film will be available on DVD and Blu-ray starting March 9th.
