Dave Franco, the younger brother of Mark Franco, has made his directorial debut with the horror/thriller movie, THE RENTAL (2020).  With tricks up its sleeve, the movie appears to be many things.  What it really seems to be is a mystery as the viewer tries to figure out who or what is the antagonist.

When two brothers and their significant others take a vacation by renting a beautiful home on the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean, they get their interpersonal relationships all messed up when drugs is added to the picture.   But after two of them discover a secret within the house, their otherwise yuppie lives are turned upside down, and their lives suddenly are in danger.

The movie is co-written by Franco and Joe Swanberg, actor of many genre films, and part of the mumblecore group of directors and writers that include Simon Barrett, Ti West, and Adam Wingard.  THE RENTAL stars Dave Franco’s wife, Alison Brie, along with Dan Stevens, Sheila Vand, and Jeremy Allen White.  Dark Discussions takes a look at this well received genre picture and gives their thoughts.