Rent-A-Pal

David Brower, a middle-aged bachelor, is struggling to find love while caring for his mother, Lucille, who suffers from dementia. He is haunted by the memory of his father's tragic suicide, which adds to his emotional burden.

In a bid to combat loneliness, David uses a video dating service called Video Rendezvous. After six months of unsuccessful attempts at finding companionship, he remains hopeful yet increasingly frustrated.

While recording an updated dating tape, David stumbles upon a captivating video titled 'Rent-A-Pal' in a bargain bin. He buys the tape, drawn in by its charismatic host, Andy, but quickly grows disillusioned and turns it off.

The next day, David receives a call from Video Rendezvous informing him that a woman named Lisa is interested in him after watching his latest tape. However, upon retrieving Lisa's video, he learns she has already found another match, crushing his newfound hope.

Despite his disappointment, David continues to watch 'Rent-A-Pal' and begins to share his frustrations with Andy about his life and the abusive behavior of his mother. This new 'friendship' offers David an escape from his loneliness.

As David's connection with the tape deepens, Andy encourages him to recount an embarrassing story from his middle school days that involved bullying. This event highlights David's trust issues and impacts his ability to form real relationships.

During an intimate moment inspired by Andy's stories, David is abruptly interrupted by Lucille, leading to a chaotic confrontation. This incident strengthens the negative influence of the tape on David’s mental state.

David's life spirals further out of control after a chaotic evening results in Lucille going missing. With Lisa's help, he finds her after a frantic search, but the reunion leads to yet more embarrassment when his past issues resurface.

In a moment of revelation, David discovers a photo that shows he bears an uncanny resemblance to Andy from the tape. This discovery sends him into a deeper realization of his deteriorating grip on reality.

After seeing the photo, David confronts Lucille when he finds her destroying the 'Rent-A-Pal' tape. In a fit of rage, he accidentally pushes her down the basement stairs, leading to a severe injury that adds to his sense of guilt and despair.

With the relentless playback of Andy's tape in the background, David's mental and emotional health continues to spiral downward. The constant presence of Andy becomes a harbinger of David's increasingly dark thoughts and actions.

Lisa returns to David's life, hopeful for reconciliation unaware of the tragic events that have transpired. Her arrival takes a dark turn when she discovers Lucille's lifeless body, causing panic and fear.

In a desperate attempt to silence Lisa and prevent her from contacting the authorities, David mimics Andy’s voice. This tragic façade reveals the extent to which David has fully immersed himself in the influence of the tape.

The situation escalates when Lisa, in a moment of self-defense, stabs David, forcing him into the basement. As chaos ensues, he hastily rewinds the 'Rent-A-Pal' tape, confronting the horrific reality of his actions.

As the tape ends, Andy bids farewell to David, marking a haunting conclusion to his tragic journey. This final moment encapsulates David’s complete surrender to his inner demons, leaving him haunted by his choices.