At this point, we really shouldn't be surprised when an actor known for comedy takes on horror smartly and satisfyingly. Now I've been a fan of Dave Franco for quite awhile. As an actor, he's incredibly funny and charming. He's terrific. Considering he's so good at comedy, you'd expect his feature film directorial debut to be something a little different than what he's offered. THE RENTAL is a slow burn of a thriller, one that is heavily grounded in reality with a healthy dose of situational drama, and a dark and vicious edge. The film stars Dan Stevens, Alison Brie, Sheila Vand, and Jeremy Allen White. The less I tell you about this chilling flick, the better.
Recently, I had the great pleasure of speaking to a few of the amazingly talented folk behind THE RENTAL. I've said that before and I always mean it, but doing press for this film was extra special. First up we spoke with the incredibly talented Sheila Vand. While she's already had an impressive career, her star-making performance in A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT officially sealed the deal. She opened up about playing that character, and how much she loves taking on films like that. As for her latest, she chatted about taking on a role that deals with human drama, as well as something far more horrific. And if you've had the chance, you may want to check her out in the TNT series Snowpiercer. Sheila is incredibly talented, and just truly wonderful to chat with.
Next up we spoke with another crazy talented fellow by the name of Jeremy Allen White. Perhaps if you've never seen his impressive work on the series Shameless, you really should. The actor opened up about playing a man dealing with his troubled past and trying to find a connection with his brother. As well, he discussed the future of Shameless, and how he's hoping to give the character of Lip Gallagher a proper goodbye. Jeremy is outstanding in the new film, and it's clear that he had a great experience working with Mr. Franco.
And speaking of Mr. Franco, it's beyond just a pleasure chatting with Dave. As a fan of his work, Dave Franco has proven to be one hell of a funny guy. Yet he loves horror. We discuss the direction genre has gone in for the past few years, and just how that inspired him to create a tense and disturbing tale of what could happen when you rent through Airbnb. Thankfully, all of these interviews were conducted in our own homes so we had a bit of extra time. During our discussion, we talked about FIGHT CLUB, HEREDITARY, and even a romantic comedy that he and Alison – his wife if you aren't aware – are writing together. There are very few fellas as genuine and kind as Dave Franco. And he also happens to be a damn good director. Make sure you check out THE RENTAL which is currently available on your preferred choice of VOD. This moody thriller is well worth seeking out.