Review: Room Service is to Die for in ‘Room for Rent’

Joyce has had it rough. She lost her husband, found herself in debt, and is getting grief from the neighbourhood douche-bags. But she feels like the dark cloud has been lifted from her grim world when the mysterious, tall, dark and handsome Bob (Oliver Rayon) walks into her life*.

Room for Rent is the debut from writer Stuart Flack (alumnus of the CineStory Foundation, where he was mentored by Captain Marvel and Inside Out writer Meg LeFauve). The movie is directed and produced by Tommy Stovall, winner of twelve Film Festival awards. It was also co-produced by its star, Lin Shaye. You should definitely recognise Shaye as the no-nonsense parapsychologist, Elise, from the Insidious franchise.

Shaye plays Joyce, a recent widow, who finds herself not just without a husband, but without money and hope. She doesn’t handle the loss well, and things get worse when she opens her home up as a bed and breakfast. Greeted with her first guests: a miserable married couple, they only stay a couple of days, as cranky husband Ed (Casey Nicholas Price) would prefer a proper hotel. But this only helps form the bond between Joyce and Ed’s unhappy wife Sarah (Valeska Miller), who dreams of becoming a writer. Joyce never had children, and Sarah has lost both her parents, so the pair become close, fast.

Joyce realises her home isn’t as inviting as she once thought, and after giving the place some TLC, gets her first long-term guest. After he moves on, she’s home alone again, until she awkwardly harasses the mysterious Bob into staying at her house after they meet in a public library (*‘walks into her life’ was probably a tad understating of their meeting).

She gets a little too keen on Bob, even going as far as getting cable so he can watch sports in the house. This is where things get creepy. Marrying her love for romance novels, and her lust for Bob, she becomes obsessed and starts fantasising a life with the handsome stranger. And she will do anything to make sure her new life goes exactly how she planned it.

Manipulation, lies and creepy actions aren’t what you’d expect from the sweet, little crazy cat lady, but that’s what you get. She lies and exaggerates so much, it’s difficult to tell when she’s telling the truth. Shaye’s performance brings this multi-dimensional character to life brilliantly, and there’s even a scene or two that feels reminiscent of Jeffrey Dean Morgan in The Resident.

The movie builds the tension well, even if it builds quite slowly. It’s directed well too, with great camera work. It does feel a little disjointed at times though, with some things that could have done with being explained, left in the dark; and a plot that is pretty predictable at times.

If you don’t go into Room for Rent expecting a fast-paced thriller, you’ll appreciate that it’s a worthy watch, and a nice addition to the drama/thriller category with some great performances.

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