The Rental

The Rental

Year: 2020

Runtime: 89 min

Language: English

Echo Score: 50
ThrillerHorror

Two couples seeking a peaceful getaway choose a seemingly perfect coastal rental property. However, their relaxing weekend takes a dark turn when they discover evidence suggesting the house is bugged, and they are being watched. As paranoia escalates, they struggle to discern reality from surveillance, leading to a tense and unsettling confrontation with the property’s mysterious host and a descent into fear and suspicion.

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The Rental (2020) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at The Rental (2020) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In a quiet coastal town, two couples escape the bustle of daily life for a weekend in a sleek, ocean‑front rental. Charlie and his wife Michelle arrive with Josh, Charlie’s brother, and his girlfriend Mina, hoping the sea breezes and modern comforts will provide the perfect respite. The house, perched on a cliff with sweeping views, feels like a sanctuary built for relaxation, yet its pristine design hints at something almost too carefully curated.

From the moment they step inside, subtle cues begin to stir unease. The trio of friends notice oddly placed objects and an unsettling sense that the space is more observant than ordinary. Conversations that should be light turn inward, as each character wrestles with their own insecurities and the quiet pressure of being together in close quarters. Mina’s sharp intuition, Josh’s restless humor, Michelle’s careful pragmatism, and Charlie’s attempt to keep the mood buoyant create a delicate balance that teeters on the edge of tension.

Adding to the atmosphere is Taylor, the enigmatic host who appears briefly and then recedes, leaving behind a lingering impression that the rental may be part of a larger, unseen design. Their intermittent interactions with him, combined with the house’s sleek technology, suggest that the line between hospitality and surveillance is thinner than it seems. As night falls, the couple’s curiosity turns to suspicion, and the once‑inviting property becomes a maze of whispered doubts.

The film cultivates a slow‑burning dread, using the isolated seaside setting and the quiet rhythm of a weekend getaway to amplify the characters’ growing paranoia. By the end of the first night, the audience is left questioning whether the true threat lies within the walls, in the eyes of an unseen watcher, or in the fragile trust among the friends themselves.

Last Updated: August 10, 2025 at 01:13

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The Rental Summary

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The Rental Summary

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The Rental Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Rental

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Rental

The Rental Ending Explained

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The Rental Ending Explained

More About The Rental

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