Rent-A-Pal
Movie • 2020 • Horror
ReportSet in 1990, a lonely bachelor named David (Brian Landis Folkins) searches for an escape from the day-to-day drudgery of caring for his aging mother (Kathleen Brady). While seeking a partner through a video dating service, he discovers a strange 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 comes at a cost, and David desperately struggles to afford the price of admission.
This movie contains 27 potentially triggering events.
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Both
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Your Triggers
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17
Unanswered Triggers
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Yes
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Are there end credit scenes?
46 supporters
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Hex0
Yes and it's worth it 😉
1 comment | Add comment
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Is someone abused with a belt?
27 supporters
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bojack
not onscreen, it's mentioned as a past trauma
1 comment | Add comment
Abandonment
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3
Abuse
Are there abusive parents?
58 supporters
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2
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Minkler
I wouldn't call her abusive, the mother is an elderly woman with dementia and acts accordingly
1 comment | Add comment
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9
Yes
15
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Pantomimicry
Both implied, mentioned in passing in graphic detail (child abuse) and is on camera (elderly abuse and murder, attempted murder of love interest)
2 comments | Add comment
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4
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Ophion42
The main character speaks about how his mother verbally and physically abused him when he was younger. Later in the film, he begins to heavily abuse her.
2 comments | Add comment
Is someone gaslighted?
34 supporters
Yes
11
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Pantomimicry
Andy gaslights David to drop his date and is made to believe that he had an appointment with Andy.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
6
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Pantomimicry
Not on camera, it's mentioned in graphic detail multiple times, severe bullying is mentioned in detail)
1 comment | Add comment
Addiction
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11
Is there addiction?
23 supporters
Yes
2
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9
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Pantomimicry
Technically not addiction but there is very heavy binge drinking on camera
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
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Animal
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3
Yes
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Assault
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3
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Imherenow
There's no rape in this film.
1 comment | Add comment
Bodily Harm
Is there shaving/cutting?
32 supporters
Yes
1
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8
1
Pantomimicry
Lisa is implied to cut her hand on the broken lasagna dish, no blood is visible however.
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone struggle to breathe?
29 supporters
Yes
9
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lethalexp0sure
Character gets choked from behind with tape at the very end, scene lasts about 30 seconds.
1 comment | Add comment
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Yes
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Does a head get squashed?
58 supporters
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11
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Pantomimicry
There is however blood on the head as a result of falling down.
1 comment | Add comment
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3
Yes
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10
Does someone asphyxiate?
25 supporters
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3
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Doomdog
No, but SPOILERS
Lisa gets choked for a small bit by David near the very end of the movie
Lisa gets choked for a small bit by David near the very end of the movie
1 comment | Add comment
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5
Does someone become unconscious?
5 supporters
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3
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CaseyP
Two different occasions
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone break a bone?
22 supporters
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13
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1
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Pantomimicry
A character falls down the stairs and can't get up. There is no direct close-up to any fractures and it is viewed from far away.
1 comment | Add comment
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12
Yes
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11
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12
Is someone tortured?
94 supporters
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15
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1
Psychological torture and elder abuse.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
7
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Does someone fall to their death?
12 supporters
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16
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1
1
Pantomimicry
Dies as a result, not seen but heard
2 comments | Add comment
Is there eye mutilation?
100 supporters
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1
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10
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Pantomimicry
Bruises around the eye and blood due to a cut under the eye. The eye is not damaged directly however.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
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2
Children
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Death
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Disability
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Drugs/Alcohol
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Family
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Does a parent die?
1 supporters
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Main character commits elder abuse.
3 comments | Add comment
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9
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10
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Fear
Are there ghosts?
8 supporters
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1
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9
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Pantomimicry
Posessed tape and objects "which should not be there", Andy MIGHT be a ghost in the tape. He looks like a regular human however, not an apparition
1 comment | Add comment
Are there jump scares?
69 supporters
Yes
4
No
5
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Pantomimicry
Two mild jumpscares but they have a fairly obvious buildup
1 comment | Add comment
Is there a shower scene?
6 supporters
Yes
7
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Pantomimicry
We can see an elderly being washed (full nudity) and she is seen showering multiple times. It's not presented as sexual.
1 comment | Add comment
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10
Is someone possessed?
14 supporters
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3
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GwendolynCox
I didn't interpret it that way at all, but at least worth noting there is no demonic language or imagery related to it
3 comments | Add comment
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Yes
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3
Yes
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Gross
Does someone vomit?
112 supporters
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14
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blakebird
Around the 1:40:00 mark, David gets hit in the stomach which leads to him leaning over and vomiting. The audio isn’t too bad but it’s fairly graphic, probably a 6/10. Once he gets hit, avoid your eyes and you should be okay. Earlier in the movie when David’s mom is sitting at the kitchen table making crafts she briefly speaks about a little girl, most likely her daughter, named Penny and how she would feed her corn dogs before putting her on a roller coaster, which would lead to her vomiting. It’s implied this happened numerous times. There is not depiction/video/audio, but vomit is mentioned.
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone wet/soil themselves?
23 supporters
Yes
8
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GwendolynCox
It is said but no details shown. A character throws away a plastic bag we can't see into.
2 comments | Add comment
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3
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3
Yes
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9
Is there audio gore?
49 supporters
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2
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6
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Pantomimicry
(warning, I have auditive processing issues, so most sounds are very hard to deal with and are interpreted as audio gore as a result) loud, bad flute playing post credits (shrill), very loud static noises, one loud beeping tone, shouting
1 comment | Add comment
Large-scale Violence
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4
Law Enforcement
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4
LGBTQ+
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3
Yes
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3
Is there deadnaming or birthnaming?
40 supporters
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3
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bojack
a character is repeatedly called the wrong name but not at all for the above reasons, and not out of malice. just thought I'd mention this anyway
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
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3
Medical
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11
Yes
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Yes
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11
Does someone have cancer?
19 supporters
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9
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Pantomimicry
But cancer is mentioned In a joke.
1 comment | Add comment
Mental Health
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3
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Yes
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9
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3
Yes
11
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Does someone attempt suicide?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
79 supporters
Add comment
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5
Yes
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3
Are there anxiety attacks?
24 supporters
Yes
10
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2
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Pantomimicry
David has a small panic attack about his mom being missing, there are multiple crying scenes after fighting, he also has a mental breakdown when Andy's tape goes missing.
1 comment | Add comment
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3
Does someone say "I'll kill myself"?
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255)
31 supporters
Add comment
Yes
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5
Yes
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3
Yes
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9
Yes
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10
Yes
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10
Yes
7
No
5
3
Pantomimicry
It is mentioned and off screen, 10 years before movie takes place.
2 comments | Add comment
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1
No
2
Noxious
Yes
2
No
1
Is there shakey cam?
1 supporters
Yes
0
No
12
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Pantomimicry
The video tape has glitches however, which can be seen as shakey.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
5
Yes
3
No
2
Are there flashing lights or images?
48 supporters
Yes
7
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2
3
Pantomimicry
(hello again, I also have visual sensitivity! It's not too bad but I had to dim my screen for this movie)
1. The tape close-ups are moving a bit too much
2. Dimmed, neon colours during a scene with rollerblades, can be eye straining
3. Static on screen used a lot
1. The tape close-ups are moving a bit too much
2. Dimmed, neon colours during a scene with rollerblades, can be eye straining
3. Static on screen used a lot
2 comments | Add comment
Paranoia
Yes
2
No
1
Yes
0
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3
Pregnancy
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3
Yes
0
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10
Yes
0
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3
Yes
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10
Yes
0
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10
Yes
0
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10
Prejudice
Are there homophobic slurs?
48 supporters
Yes
3
No
7
3
Pantomimicry
A straight character is called gay as an insult however
1 comment | Add comment
Is there ableist language or behavior?
42 supporters
Yes
8
No
2
2
Pantomimicry
David's mom, who has dementia, is abused towards the end and is killed. She is also neglected in a few scenes. He also says that "she took everything from him" and if she "realizes what she has done", which could be interpreted as ableist in context. Is called "cr4zy and a dad killer"
1 comment | Add comment
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11
Yes
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No
10
Yes
0
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6
Yes
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10
Yes
0
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11
Yes
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12
Yes
0
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4
Yes
0
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3
Yes
0
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11
Is there hate speech?
32 supporters
Yes
3
No
6
2
Pantomimicry
Gay used as a slur, can be interpreted as hate speech. Instances of ableist language
1 comment | Add comment
Race
Yes
0
No
3
Relationships
Yes
0
No
6
Sex
Are there nude scenes?
51 supporters
Yes
7
No
0
0
Emilie67
There's one brief scene where David is watching porn, and multiple scenes showing his mother in the shower. The shower scenes aren't sexualized
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
4
Yes
0
No
3
Yes
1
No
3
Are there incestuous relationships?
National Sexual Assault Hotline 800.656.4673
0 supporters
Add comment
Yes
0
No
10
Is there sexual content?
64 supporters
Yes
15
No
0
2
There is a masturbation scene where the main character is masturbating to someone else describing sex. The shots are done so that you only see his face, no genitals.
3 comments | Add comment
Sexism
Yes
0
No
4
Sickness
Yes
0
No
3
Does someone have a chronic illness?
10 supporters
Yes
7
No
0
0
Emilie67
David's mother has dementia and needs care 24/7. They show multiple scenes of her struggling to function due to her condition
1 comment | Add comment
Is there dementia/Alzheimer's?
1 supporters
Yes
9
No
0
1
Doomdog
The mom from the very beginning of the film to said to have dementia
1 comment | Add comment
Social
Yes
0
No
3
Yes
0
No
3
Spoiler
Yes
0
No
11
Yes
15
No
0
Vehicular
Does a car honk or tires screech?
10 supporters
Yes
5
No
0
1
Emilie67
There are scenes where David honks his car horn in frustration/anger, but no tires screeching or car crash
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
0
No
11
Yes
0
No
10
Yes
0
No
11
Violence
Yes
0
No
10
Is there blood/gore?
0 supporters
Yes
13
No
1
0
Pantomimicry
Blood on one of the characters, visible cut and bruises. Another character is covered in blood.
2 comments | Add comment
Yes
0
No
10
Is there gun violence?
29 supporters
Yes
0
No
10
-1
Pantomimicry
But Main character pulls some object as a threat (I didn't quite see what it was, sorry!)
1 comment | Add comment