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Movies and TV shows tend to portray older women as sweet and lovable grannies. They like to do things like bake cookies and crochet and spoil their grandkids. But in the creepy thriller Room for Rent, a timid old woman finally reaches her breaking point.
Room for Rent stars Lin Shaye as Joyce, a sweet little old lady who finds herself in debt after her husband’s death. Needing to make some quick cash, she decides to rent out a room in her house. Her first attempt as the proprietor of a cozy bed and breakfast doesn’t go especially well, but she feels like she’s hit the jackpot when she rents a room to dark, handsome, and mysterious Bob (Oliver Rayon). But when she becomes a little too attached and an outsider threatens their imaginary bond, things take a dark turn.
Room for Rent is the kind of slow-burning thriller that starts innocently enough. Poor Joyce has just lost her husband, and if it weren’t for the eeriness of the tone, it might be almost heartbreaking to see that she has neither family nor friends there to support her as she grieves. But it soon becomes evident that she might not be grieving all that much—and losing her husband is the least of her problems.
As the story plays out, the character shifts—and Shaye does an excellent job of shifting with her. What once seemed to be a harmless (if maybe a little needy) old woman turns clingy. She’s a little too meddlesome with her first guests, but that’s just the beginning. Bob’s arrival takes things to a creepy new level. She begins to imagine a romance novel-worthy relationship that doesn’t exist. She digs through his belongings and goes out of her way to make him happy. And she does more and more things that will make audiences just plain uncomfortable until she finally seems to come entirely unhinged.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of holes and inconsistencies in the plot. The shifts aren’t always natural, and the characters’ actions don’t always make sense. And some scenes are even laughable. But the overall result is effective—and the gutsy star makes it a perfectly disturbing experience.
Room for Rent is an enjoyably eerie thriller with a quietly engaging star. After seeing it, though, you may not look at that sweet little old lady from down the street (or AirBnB listings) the same way again.
Listen to the review on Reel Discovery:
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