Killer Rental could have been a lot of fun, but unfortunately it wasn’t.
Synopsis
Killer Rental is about friends renting a secluded Joshua Tree vacation home, only to discover hidden cameras recording their every move, turning their getaway into a terrifying experience as they realize a sociopathic killer is orchestrating events.
My Thoughts on Killer Rental
Good Points
Isolation Setup
The cabin’s remote location works well, where it makes it believable that the characters are cut off, which automatically helps with the tension, and you don’t have to question “why don’t they just call for help?
Found Footage Framing
I liked that both stationary hidden cameras and POV footage from the characters were used, and it worked reasonably well.
Brutal At Times
The use of power tools is both brutal and sometimes creative too, with some of the kills being the best part.
The Setting
The house and surrounding woods are used well, and the filmmakers show the isolation, the terrain, and even the practical difficulties of being trapped.
Bad Points
Slow Early Pacing
The first part of the movie is a bit slow. Not too horrible but for this type of low budget horror, needed to move quicker.
Predictable Slasher Tropes
Familiar horror beats aplenty here, and you wil often know what is about to happen before it does.
The Characters
While the friends are somewhat likable, most of them lack any unique traits or quirks.
Limited Early Threats
The Carpenter doesn’t appear until the third act, and some early encounters with subtle threats could have helped the suspense.
Some Dialogue Feels Stiff
Some of the conversations don’t feel too natural, and comes across as quite stiff at times.
Secondary Characters
Some of the supporting friends in the movie have very little development or screen time, and I think more could have been done with them.
Final Thoughts On Killer Rental
Killer Rental could have been a lot of fun in a dumb way, but it moves too slowly at times for it to have too much effect.
I certainly don’t mind slow burners, but this isn’t one of those movies that should have been, and anything half interesting comes far too late.
Found Footage Horror Movies 
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