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‘room for rent’: film review.

Lin Shaye plays a lonely widow who becomes obsessed with her handsome young tenant in Tommy Stovall's psychological thriller 'Room for Rent.'

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Frank Scheck

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It’s been a genuine pleasure in recent years to witness the transformation of Lin Shaye from little-known character actor to horror film icon. Shaye has certainly had a chance to shine with her continuing role in the hugely successful Insidious franchise, but her starring role in Tommy Stoval’s indie thriller Room for Rent gives her the sort of starring vehicle for which actresses of a certain age would kill for. And speaking of killing, her lonely widow character in the film is someone whom you would definitely not want as your landlord.

Shaye plays Joyce, who discovers that she’s insolvent after her husband dies in an accident. After reading a magazine article about making easy money with “Sharebnb,” she decides to rent out a room in the spacious house that she lives in with only her cat for company.

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Release date: May 03, 2019

It becomes apparent early on that Joyce, who spends most of her time reading romance novels. is an odd duck, to put it mildly. After being periodically harassed by a group of skateboarding teenagers who keep making lewd remarks, she finally snaps, angrily striking back and stunning the group’s leader by forcefully kissing him on the mouth.

Joyce’s first guests are Sarah (Valeska Miller) and her boyfriend Edward (Casey Nichols Price), whom she treats with almost motherly attention. And though Joyce and Sarah become friendly, the older woman alienates Edward, particularly when offering them cookies. “Only one for you, you’re a little fat,” Joyce announces. Sarah and Edward leave soon afterwards, but Joyce finds another tenant in the form of Bob (Oliver Rayon), a sexy drifter with a mysterious past and a tendency to get into fistfights.

The plot machinations of Stuart Flack’s screenplay can be seen from a mile away, but that doesn’t make this familiar tale of a vengeful, obsessed woman any less satisfying. Joyce becomes besotted by Bob and soon begins dressing provocatively (but looking absurd) and flirting outrageously in the manner of a love-struck teenager. She coyly asks him to bring her a towel while she’s taking a bath, and, while he’s out, takes the opportunity to use his toothbrush with an almost erotic fervor.

She also begins a correspondence with Sarah, describing her relationship with her new tenant in wildly exaggerated fashion. Not long after, Sarah comes to stay at the house for a few days and strikes up romantic sparks with Bob. Not surprisingly, Joyce doesn’t handle the situation gracefully at all well.

Shaye has a field day with her character, for whom such expressions as “It’s time to finally bury that hatchet” and “When it’s your time, it’s your time” have diabolical undertones. The actress is simultaneously terrifying and amusing, and always mesmerizing, anchoring the occasionally hokey proceedings with her nuanced performance that feels surprising at every turn. She’s wildly entertaining, but always grounded in a psychological reality that prevents Room for Rent from turning into the sort of campy horror films that Bette Davis trafficked in late in her career.

The supporting characters are not nearly as well-developed or interesting, feeling more like plot devices and reducing the film’s overall impact. And director Stovall ( Aaron’s Blood ), although certainly competent, doesn’t infuse the proceedings with the sort of cinematic stylishness that would have elevated Room for Rent above B-movie status. Nonetheless, it’s essential viewing for Lin Shaye fans, and that’s more than enough.

Production company: Pasidg Productions Distributor: Uncork’d Entertainment Cast: Lin Shaye, Oliver Rayon, Valeskia Miller, Ryan Ochoa Director: Tommy Stovall Screenwriter: Stuart Flack Producers: Marc S. Sterling, Tommy Stoval Director of photography: Ziryab Ben Brahem Production designer: Samyo Shannon Composer: Joseph Bishara Costume designer: Paula Rogers

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‘Room for Rent’ Film Review

Room for Rent is directed by Tommy Stovall ( Aaron’ Blood ), starring horror icon Lin Shaye ( Insidious ), Oliver Rayon ( In Transit ) and Valeska Miller ( First List ), and is a thriller that sees a lonely widow looking for guests.

Room for Rent follows a recently widowed lady, Joyce (Shaye), who is in need of money and decides to use her spare room as a bed-n-breakfast. Joyce becomes friends with one of her first guests, Sarah (Miller), before she gets her first long-term guest in Bob (Rayon), a handsome, mysterious man who helps her with the local troublemakers. Joyce soon starts acting like she is involved in some sort of relationship with Bob, getting to the level of obsession, one that becomes dangerous.

Room for Rent uses the story of being lonely and needing to find something to do after losing a loved one that kept you company for years; we get to address a position many older people could find themselves in suddenly. The idea that Joyce decides to invite people into her home shows her moving in the right direction; this is the softer side of the story. The obsession side of the story does get slightly confusing because we hint heavily at trying to find a replacement man in her life, with nearly every scene seeing her dress to impress at an ever-increasing level. The problem with this comes from the fact we get another motivation thrown in which wouldn’t make sense with everything else we have seen. The story does however keep us on edge through the unfolding moments, which shows us just how far Joyce will go for her own new moment of happiness.

Room for Rent stars Lin Shaye, who gives us a performance that is head and shoulders above the rest of the cast. We wouldn’t expect anything less from the horror icon; she makes us feel unsettled by what she is doing through each scene, being creepy and overly friendly throughout. Oliver Rayon does make his character feel like he is mysterious while remaining patient with Joyce, which is how a guest could see a strange owner while trying to stay under the radar. Valeska Miller does everything needed for her character though we could have seen more of her in the film.

Room for Rent is a thriller that does keep us guessing what will happen next between the characters. Joyce keeps nearly every scene feeling unsettling throughout and you will be left just wanting to see if she does something over the boundaries or not. The setting within one home helps with the creepiness going on through the film too because it feels like Joyce could just pop up anywhere.

Overall Room for Rent is a thriller that will keep us guessing. Lin Shaye shines through the film as we see a darker side of grief.

Article by Jonathon Wilson

Jonathon is one of the co-founders of Ready Steady Cut and has been an instrumental part of the team since its inception in 2017. Jonathon has remained involved in all aspects of the site’s operation, mainly dedicated to its content output, remaining one of its primary Entertainment writers while also functioning as our dedicated Commissioning Editor, publishing over 6,500 articles.

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“ Room for Rent is perfect in every aspect. So perfect, in fact, that it would behoove any filmmaker to take notes to every passing second of the film… Director Tommy Stovall has hit the ultimate home run with his original take on the ‘Obsession’ genre… Shaye’s tour-de-force performance is one never to be forgotten, and a career topper, at that.” – Cryptic Rock

“She gives one of her most disturbing performances in Room for Rent .   Shaye’s admirably unafraid to tap into the parts of herself that weird people out.” – Los Angeles Times

“[Lin Shaye] is simultaneously terrifying and amusing, and always mesmerizing, anchoring the occasionally hokey proceedings with her nuanced performance that feels surprising at every turn. She’s wildly entertaining, but always grounded in a psychological reality” – Hollywood Reporter

“Room for Rent  is a magnificent motion picture. For not only does it harken back to the psychological thriller boom of the late 1990s, it really does add a fresh spin to the genre by humanizing the incredibly broken Joyce because we are privy to her complete downward spiral in this tale, and that’s just heartbreaking to say the least… this is a thriller that I highly recommend, simply because it’s downright refreshing ” – Nerds That Geek

“Uncork’d Entertainment has a hit on his hands with Tommy Stovall’s Room for Rent .  Once the film kicks into all its thriller glory, it’s hard not to be invested. [Stuart] Flack peppers the script with just enough humor to break the tension and as Joyce’s weird habits begin to take center stage, the humor quite perfectly adapts into apprehension.” – FangirlNation Magazine

“ Room for Rent , the suspenseful and unsettling film from director Tommy Stovall, brings the concept of a landlord from hell to the next level with a creeping dread that will have you squirming in your seat… Room for Rent is a wild ride you won’t soon forget.” – Pop Geeks

“Everyone that loves a good horror thriller should see ROOM FOR RENT… Shaye brings us one of the best performances of her life.” – Morbidly Beautiful

“Watch Room for Rent for Lin Shaye who gives the most intense and heartbreaking performance. It shook me – in the best ways!” – Heaven of Horror

“Not only is Room for Rent a fantastic tension-filled horror but this might be Shaye’s best performance yet… A must see.” – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life

“ Room for Rent is a taut thriller that leaves you squirming with discomfort from start to finish… [Shaye] plays Joyce with excellent range, cunning, and effortless panache. It is a treat to watch her chew up the scenery as only actresses like her can do.” – Harlton Empire

“Thank the horror gods for an actress like Lin Shaye… A solid sense of dread looms over the film with levity only coming when you are taken back about how impressive a moment was. Creating that type of terror in such a small size makes an impact and makes Tommy Stovall’s new film an enjoyable ride” – Flickering Myth

“Ms. Shaye is a joy to watch and this is a chance to see her take on a powerful and emotional role.” – JoBlo’s Movie Emporium

“ Room for Rent   is an enthralling psychological thriller and Lin Shaye’s portrayal of Joyce will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.” – Nightmarish Conjurings

“Director Tommy Stovall does a great job at moving the film along at a slow but deliberate pace, building the tension and dread at wonderful intervals… Lin Shaye gives a wonderful performance as Joyce, adding layers of frustration, anger, and obsession as the movie progresses… Stovall and Shaye manage to elevate it on numerous occasions so that it’s fun and creepy all at the same time.” – Geek Chic Elite

“ Room for Rent is well-paced, well-written, and enthralling.” – Tales of Terror

“ Room for Rent is a thriller that will keep us guessing. Lin Shaye shines through the film as we see a darker side of grief.” – Ready Steady Cut

“Shaye brings us a complex, fascinating, almost sympathetic ‘villain’ in Joyce, who knows how to play fragile, and knows how to appear helpless. But there’s a hidden manipulative and determined strength in this woman that she can bring out when it suits her. Shaye is a woman at the very apex of her talent at 75 and she is relishing every minute of it.” – The Movie Waffler

“ Room for Rent makes for a deliciously deadly night at the movies.  It is both fierce and funny, giving Shaye a wonderful vehicle to display her amazing qualities as a character actor.” – Reel Reviews

“ Room for Rent is a character-focused thriller that allows Lin Shaye to demonstrate her profound ability to dominate the screen every second she appears.” – 1428 Elm

“The great Lin Shaye continues her streak as a legend in the horror genre with this thriller.” – World Film Geek

“Lin Shaye is fantastic in this role, we are left truly unsettled by here performance. ” – Movie Reviews 101

“Shaye’s performance brings this multi-dimensional character to life brilliantly… a nice addition to the drama/thriller category with some great performances.” – Horror Geek Life

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Room for rent - movie review.

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Indie horror films are, thankfully, on the rise and when they are of this quality, well, they can be damn remarkable with both their chills and spills.  Room for Rent is a thriller from Arizona-based filmmaker Tommy Stovall that works on many levels, putting sort of Air B&B spin on Fatal Attraction and, thanks to a dynamic performance from Insidious ’ Lin Shaye , the film gleefully buries its butcher knife in us all.

And we are made happy by such violent actions.

Shaye is a lonely old woman. We see her stumbling through town, struggling to make ends meet after the tragic passing of her husband. We learn quickly that her world is turned upside down with his passing.  She tries to make friends but it comes across as awkward.  And she gets ridiculed by neighborhood bullies for her actions.  They call her the crazy old lady . . .

. . . but they don’t know the half of it.  Neither do we.  That is until Joyce ( Shaye ), in order to make some money, rents out her room as an air B&B for traveling men and women.  Suddenly, with all this attention, she takes all our warm wishes that we have toward her plight and tosses them out the window as her desperation to be accepted and feel belonged turns to obsession as Bob ( Oliver Rayon ), her new tenet and motorcycle enthusiast, comes to stay. {googleads}

Suddenly, Joyce is all goo-goo eyes for him and wants to hop on the back of his bike for a date night out on the town.  She calls him from the bathtub, asking him to hand her a towel because "silly me… I can't quite reach my towel."  Bob keeps his cool until Sarah ( Valeska Miller ) returns and stays with Joyce as a newly single person.  Sparks fly between Bob and Sarah, even though Joyce is not convinced, due to his extended visit, that they are lovers.

She calls them her new friends.  And we call her the same, too. 

But there is something deadly lurking behind her eyes; it is an instability that suggests deadly things are about to transpire.  Well-shot and completely enthralling, Room for Rent makes for a deliciously deadly night at the movies.  It is both fierce and funny, giving Shaye a wonderful vehicle to display her amazing qualities as a character actor. 

Co-starring Linda Cushma, Casey Nicholas-Price , and Ryan Ochoa , Room for Rent opens May 3 in select theaters and releases May 7 on digital through Uncork'd Entertainment .

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MPAA Rating: Unrated. Runtime: 81 mins Director : Tommy Stovall Writer: Stuart Flack Cast: Lin Shaye, Oliver Rayon, Valeska Miller Genre : Thriller Tagline: She'd kill to find a decent man. Memorable Movie Quote: "Mr.s Smith, do you have any family close by?" Theatrical Distributor: Uncork'd Entertainment Official Site: Release Date: May 7, 2019 DVD/Blu-ray Release Date: No details available. Synopsis : Lin Shaye stars as a lonely widow who rents out a room in her house and becomes dangerously obsessed with one of her guests.

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Movie Review – Room For Rent (2019)

April 4, 2019 by EJ Moreno

Room For Rent , 2019.

Directed by Tommy Stovall. Starring Lin Shaye, Oliver Rayon, Valeska Miller, and Ryan Ochoa.

Joyce, a lonely widow, rents out a room in her house. She soon becomes dangerously obsessed with one of her guests, a mysterious drifter.

Let’s start this review off by talking about the incomparable Lin Shaye. As the star of Room For Rent , Shaye carries the film on her back. Not only giving the best performance of the piece but giving it an overall grander feeling with her presence.

A veteran actor with over 40 years in the business, Lin Shaye is a force in the horror community as she churns out memorable performance after memorable performance. Even when the film isn’t as strong as her acting, like Room For Rent , she still elevates the material like no other. Any movie that gives a starring role to a woman in her 70s is admirable. In an industry obsessed with the idea that age matters in film, Shaye is proving that all it takes is impressive acting over anything superficial.

Thankfully even though the film isn’t as polished as some of Lin Shaye’s more famous works, Room For Rent is still the perfect playground for an actress like her. A solid sense of dread looms over the film with levity only coming when you are taken back about how impressive a moment was. Creating that type of terror in such a small size makes an impact and makes Tommy Stovall’s new film an enjoyable ride.

Joyce (Lin Shaye) is a new widow, struggling to find her place after her husband passes and he leaves her with a mountain of financial problems. While the passing of her husband is undoubtedly affecting her, there seems to be something a bit off with Joyce. Not only does she spend her time obsessing over romance novels, but she seems to have problems with a group of skateboarding teenagers. In an attempt to alleviate her issues, she begins to rent a spare room in her house with an app service.

Her experience with the first guests isn’t exactly what she hoped for, a couple where the woman connects with Joyce while her husband demands they stay elsewhere. This exchange leaves her feeling far lonelier than before, leading her to her first outburst. But everything changes when a shady yet charming drifter named Bob (Oliver Rayon) shows up. These two hit it off, and it takes them both down a darker path than either expected.

Diving into any more of the story robs Room For Rent of its genuinely stellar moments. With the writing and directing of the film, it takes you down a very dark path with Joyce, and you end up feeling so many different emotions for her. While Shaye brings her all to the story, it wouldn’t be fair to discredit how the film nails its intentions. Director Tommy Stovall and writer Stuart Flack both took inspirations from similar works to craft something that feels relatively unique. If you’ve seen films like Fatal Attraction or even Misery , you understand the general premise of a movie like this, but Room For Rent adds enough of new aspects to keep it fresh.

Not everything in the script works as some of the supporting characters and their stories get lost in the tornado that is Joyce and Bob’s story. The role of Sarah, in particular, feels like she’s there to help build up Joyce’s character at first, but only serves as something to kill time until the more significant moments. Same goes with the annoying teen character Wayne, who gets an intense moment with Joyce but then suddenly little else to do. Either flesh everyone out or trim them down more, they’re stuck in an awkward middle ground.

Room For Rent also lacks some of those more exceptional touches that elevate a film from a small budget horror to an independent must-see. The score is intrusive, at times distracting from the dramatic or morose moment on screen. Composer Joseph Bishara grasps the right music to use in the right moment, but something became disconnected between composition and the final edit. Some of the scores would loudly play over a scene that could’ve used a bit more of a quiet moment, or sometimes it would distract from Shaye’s great acting with an overused music sting to tell you this is supposed to be dramatic.

The same hit or miss style is found in the cinematography as well. The use of light and shadows worked well in this story, especially watching a character creepily sit in a darkened room sold a moment. But sadly, the camera work couldn’t match the other stylistic choices as it was flat-looking.

Thank the horror gods for an actress like Lin Shaye. With Room For Rent and a lot of other films, she brings something out the material that I don’t think any other actress could’ve. While this horror movie stands on its own as a good thrilling romp, it is evident that a strong actress carried the majority of the piece. Room For Rent isn’t tackling any new ground with its story, but Shaye brings just enough charisma and talent to keep you entertained throughout.

Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

About EJ Moreno

EJ Moreno is a film and television critic and entertainment writer who joined the pop culture website Flickering Myth in 2018 and now serves as the executive producer of Flickering Myth TV, a YouTube channel with over 27,000 subscribers. With over a decade of experience, he is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic who is also part of the Critics Choice Association and GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics.

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Movie Review: ROOM FOR RENT (2019)

• May 1, 2019
• Michelle Swope

Over the past forty years, Lin Shaye has starred in more than ninety feature films and has become a well-known and admired actress in the horror genre. She’s probably most often associated with her ongoing role in the Insidious franchise, which has spawned four films so far and is the only time I’ve seen her in a leading role, until ROOM FOR RENT .

ROOM FOR RENT was written by Stuart Flack and directed by Tommy Stovall, also known for Sedona (2011) and Aaron’s Blood (2016). Shaye plays Joyce, a lonely woman whose husband recently passed away and now lives alone in a large house with only her cat. After her husband’s death, she discovers that there is very little money in the bank and worries about how she is going to survive on her own. Besides being a rare leading role for Shaye, this is the kind of character she’s never played before, and in case there was ever any doubt, the film allows her the opportunity to prove what a fiercely diverse actress she is. She transitions skillfully between the sinister aspects of the story and the dark comedic elements in the film.

When we first meet Joyce, she is timid and homely and enjoys going to the library where she checks out romance novels. She also likes walking past a local park where teenagers skateboard and a group of boys repeatedly mock her and yell obscenities at her until one day they go too far and one of them pulls her dress up, attempting to sexually assault her while laughing. Joyce snaps, pushes the boy off her and loudly threatens to kick his ass. Shaye’s performance in this scene is absolutely heart-wrenching. Not only is she forcefully defending herself, but this is also the first glimpse into just how complex Joyce’s personality really is.

After seeing a flyer at the library about a Bed and Breakfast, Joyce decides to rent out rooms in her house to make money. Her first guests are a couple named Sarah (Valeska Miller) and Edward (Casey Nicholas Price). Joyce almost immediately becomes friends with Sarah, who’s a writer, even going so far as to tell her she thinks she should dump Edward. Joyce acts more like a mother than a hostess to her guests and even gleefully cooks and cleans for them. When she returns home, Sarah writes Joyce a letter, much to Joyce’s delight, and they begin corresponding regularly. In her letters to Sarah, Joyce exaggerates about her life, especially after a new handsome, mysterious guest arrives, named Bob (Oliver Rayon), who’s planning an extended stay at her Bed and Breakfast.

Bob drives a motorcycle, keeps a large, locked wooden box in his room, and when he first moves into the B&B he looks like he’s been in a fight. Joyce reads her romance novels and begins fantasizing about Bob. At first, it’s easy to feel bad for her because she’s old and only has her cat to keep her company, but then things get weird when she starts going through Bob’s belongings when he isn’t home. She smiles to herself as she sprays on some of his cologne and even tries out his toothbrush. She changes her entire image by wearing makeup and sexy clothes and makes up excuses to try and spend more time with Bob. All this time, she’s writing letters to Sarah gushing about Bob and eventually invites Sarah to come and stay, telling Sarah she can relax and work on the book she’s been writing. Sarah does come to visit, and she and Bob hit it off a little too well, sending Joyce into a jealous rage. ROOM FOR RENT ‘s well-written script along with Joyce’s increasingly bizarre and terrifying behavior really showcase Shaye’s incredible range as an actress. Hold on to your seats, because just when you think this film can’t possibly get any crazier, it does.

By the final act, it’s clear that Joyce is willing to do anything, possibly even kill, to get what she wants, and you start to wonder if she was always unstable or if her husband’s death and the loneliness that followed pushed her over the edge. In fact, when Joyce first met Sarah, she told her that her husband’s death was an accident, but was it? ROOM FOR RENT does an excellent job of presenting some truly cringe-worthy situations and adding just the right amount of twisted humor to cause you to be both horrified and laughing out loud at the same time. The entire cast is remarkable and works well as an ensemble, but Lin Shaye is phenomenal in this film. It is without a doubt the most outstanding performance I’ve ever seen from her and I hope to see her in more lead roles in the future. ROOM FOR RENT is an enthralling psychological thriller and Lin Shaye’s portrayal of Joyce will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. ROOM FOR RENT opens May 3 in select theaters and releases May 7 on Digital. 

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Room for rent.

Directed by Tommy Stovall

She'd kill to find a decent man

Lonely widow Joyce rents out a room in her house and becomes dangerously obsessed with one of her guests.

Lin Shaye Oliver Rayon Valeska Miller Ryan Ochoa Linda Cushma Casey Nicholas Price Tonya June Moore Michael Harrelson Jose Rosete Justin Roberts Trevor Sterling Stovall

Director Director

Tommy Stovall

Producers Producers

Tommy Stovall Marc S. Sterling Lin Shaye Wade Adams Kent Adamson

Writer Writer

Stuart Flack

Cinematography Cinematography

Ben Braham Ziryab

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Samyo Shannon

Composer Composer

Joseph Bishara

Costume Design Costume Design

Paula Rogers

Makeup Makeup

Pasidg Productions Inc.

Releases by Date

23 feb 2019.

• Theatrical limited

03 May 2019

07 may 2019, 22 oct 2021, releases by country, russian federation.

• Digital 18+
• Premiere Sedona International Film Festival

81 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by DreamScape40 ★★★ 1

Lin Shaye is the queen of horror in my books. She was every bit creepy in this role and was great.

The film was shot on location in gorgeous Sedona, AZ.

Review by Lebowskidoo 🇨🇦 🎬 🍿 ★★★★ 2

A widow is forced to rent a room in her home to pay her bills. She has some mental issues and becomes fixated on her tenant. Things only get weirder from there.

Not a horror movie, not really a thriller either. It's mostly a character study, an observation of a woman who has been screwed over lashing out. Lin Shaye is brilliant in this role, both sympathetic and repugnant, depending on the scene. It's an insidious movie, no pun intended. It gradually crawls under your skin and into your mind. You'll never want to stay in an airbnb again!

Review by HorrorSage ★★★½

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

Good evening and welcome fellow of Chaos.

Man Tubi, this wasn't scary, it was just sad.

As human we have the need for purpose. Family, Work, Collecting horror movies that no one has heard of. Something to drive ourselves.

So what happens when that purpose is stolen from us? We have to find another. this quest for purpose can often be destructive. The drive to find something to live for can destroy us and others.

Lin Shaye plays Gloria, a woman who's husband was taken from her. So she find the purpose of a man who she can't tell if she's on love with, or a surrogate mother for.

And the whole movie is just her giving to someone who…

Review by Mr. DuLac ★

You're looking for a room? -Joyce

Lin Shaye is great and it's hard to hate a movie that has her as it's star, but everything else in the film is poorly executed. It meets the minimum requirements to be considered a film. The trailer pretty much shows everything so just watch that instead or better yet watch something else.

--------------------------------------------------- Degrees of Separation from Last Movie: - Room for Rent with Lin Shaye -Was in Small Town Saturday Night with Octavia Spencer -Was in Ma

Review by rosie ★ 1

this star is ONLY for boodle

Review by Roel ★

the Joker for the elderly

Review by robyn ★★★

all these stars for lin shaye who is having the time of her life

Review by DopeAssGhost ★

ROOM FOR RENT (2019) "Lonely widow Joyce rents out a room in her house and becomes dangerously obsessed with one of her guests."

I don't understand how this got such high ratings on IMDB. Honestly, this was no better than a Lifetime t.v. film: it offered nothing refreshingly new or original, the characters sucked, the plot was pretty dumb, and I was pretty bored. Lin Shaye did offer a captivating performance but she should've been given a better script than this. Oliver Rayon and Valeska Miller portrayed morons with zero chemistry who hook up despite Lin Shaye's batshit crazy obsessive demeanor that they're totally oblivious to most of the film. Honestly, besides some good acting and quippy dialogue, this movie royally sucked.

Review by ZaraGwen ★★

Lin Shaye needs to be cast in better horror movies

Review by yeuxcriquet ★★

she do be snorting coke though

Review by niylah ★★★★ 2

Room for Rent is about a lonely older lady, Joyce, who just lost her husband and is in need of money. She decides to open up a bed and breakfast out of her home, and takes an inappropriate interest in one of her guests.

It’s nice to see Lin Shaye playing a villain for a change. I don’t know what it is about her, but I love her in everything I’ve seen her in. She’s so charming, and she brings such life to her roles. Even as a villain I can’t help but feel sorry for her. Shaye portrays the many facets of Joyce’s complex character extremely well. She’s polite and sociable and funny, yet creepy and very, very manipulative.…

Review by Bear Rowell ★★

Dull, mostly lifeless Lifetime-feelin unspooky horror, Lin Shaye isn't awful but by no means her best. Lonely widow goes all bonkers on her renters. Cool lookin Southwestern scenery, nice use of drone shots in the beginning. Otherwise totally forgettable. Music a little over mixed. Whatever I guess.

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Room For Rent (2019) Horror Movie Ending Explained

Room For Rent isn’t really a horror, but if you are a fan of  Lin Shaye , you might enjoy this bizarre twisted drama.

Lonely widow Joyce rents out a room in her house and becomes dangerously obsessed with one of her mysterious guest.

The Review (Spoiler Free)

I really enjoyed this strange, sad, laughable, and twisted film. It has a lot of the truisms of life embedded in it.   Room For Rent isn’t a horror, but it is still very entertainning.  It does have bit of bizarre Hitchcock-ish feel to the movie.

Room For Rent centers around Joyce character and Lin Shay is excellent in this role.   Joyce is complicated character.   She makes you feel empathy for her character even when she is going down the darkest of paths.   She is frail, but fearsome . She is unpredictably manipulative, but still making you want to root for her in some fashion.

The story is well written and the casts give great performances. But the movie does have bit of ‘Lifetime’ after dark TV movie feel to it, and the pace is very slow and mundane even for a drama.  That being said, performance of Lin Shaye makes the movie very entertainning.

The ending is bit of anticlimactic.  Some may be confused about the ending.  But if you pay attention to the Joyce character, you know exactly what is going on at the end of the movie.  (See Ending Explained below.)

Room For Rent will please Lin Shaye’s fans.  As always, her acting is top notch.  If you are a horror fans, this one might be disappointing.  There aren’t any gore or violence at all.  But all the makings for a good movie are here.

Ending Explained (Spoiler Warning!)

The movie starts with death of Joyce’s husband.  We don’t know much about her husband and how he died.  But she seems to be genuinely sad by death of her husband and she seems lost.

In the beginning, Joyce characters appears to be very verniable and weak.  But as the movie progress, we are slowly revealed very complicated and dark side of Joyce’s character.

We know that Joyce was in a marriage with very stubborn and difficult man for very long time, and she was in very unhappy the marriage.  I am sure, over time, she felt she has been wasting her life with this difficult man.  So when her husband died, she decided to make up for life that she never had.  We don’t know how the husband died, but I won’t be surprised if she decided to kill her husband by faking an accident to get out of her dreadful marriage.

But after her husband died, she realized that her husband was broke and she had no money.  So she got the idea of starting a Bed and Breakfast business from her home.

I am sure Joyce was also lonely woman, so when Sarah came along, she was happy to make a new friend.  When she first met her, she was with a stubborn boyfriend who she reminded me of her late-husband.  Later we found out that Sarah broke up with him.  Perhaps, Joyce has something to do with her breaking up?  It is very possible.

The story starts to develop when the mysteirous man rented the room.  Joyce got obsessed with him.  He was the outlet of romanceless marriage she has with her husband for a long time.  But when she found out he got Sarah pregnant, she got jealous and decided to kill everyone.  Well, except for her baby.

In the last scene, when Joyce went to vacation and left the entire house to Sarah, she discovered the mysterious locked room.  It turned out that this mysterious locked room was her baby’s room.  So Joyce’s plan was to come back 9 months later after Sarah has her baby.  Then kill Sarah, take her baby, and raise her as her own since she never had her own baby.  We learned earlier in the movie that she always wanted have her own baby.  In fact, she was once pregnant, but when her husband found out, he was furious  So he made her “get rid” of it.

In the Nutshell

Overall,  Room For Rent  isn’t a horror, but if you are a fan of Lin Shaye, she is fantastic in this movie .   [4 out of 5 stars]

If you already saw this movie, help us rate the movie by click on the Star Rating.  

Genre: Horror Drama

Rottentomatoes Rating:  82% | 38%

You can watch on: 

• DVD/Blueray

10 comments

Nice review, I completely agree with your rating of 4/5 stars. Certainly wasnt perfect but it was definitely a real good movie. I thought it had a very captivating plot and Joyce’s character was done so well. So well in fact, I actually cringed many times because of how well she acted out the jealous old woman.

Interesting film. I already knew the ending that she goes away until the baby is born, and gets rid of the mother so she can bring him/her up on her own

I’ve always enjoyed Lin Shaye in other movies, but here, she shows that she really has the chops for serious roles! It’s about time that the horror/thriller/suspense genre writers were made aware that it’s OK to cast someone who is out of their teens, and hasn’t a particle of silicone in their body.

Lin Shaye’s portrait a very good performance..

I liked the handsome tall room renter who spoke Spanish and English so well. I didn’t want him killed. I predicted something would happen between him and Sarah and Joyce would become unglued and homicidal from her romantic novel fantasies. I predicted it but not the baby. The end of this movie however, was completely unclear. It left you wondering who to root for.

Loved this movie! The main character was SO believable. I really thought, “oh what a nice little lonely lady.” So when she came out with that mini skirt and giant bow in her hair, I was like “what are you doing!?” 🤣

This film was an absolute surprise in the best sense. The main character Joyce is rotten to the core. The article that explains the ending and spoils it–don’t read it till after you see the film–made me think was Joyce as callous as to kill the new mother and raise the child as her own?room for rent is Hitchcockesque. It reminded me of a film What ever happened to aunt Alice? from the late 60s. Aunt Alice got buried under a tree too. The rotten tomatoes audience rating of was unjust. The film definitely deserved the critics fresh tomatoes

Excellent movie did not see the end coming but kinda figured the rest. Joyce is so believable in the beginning as a lonely sweet widow then her true colors come out as a sociopath

The old lady has PTSD and Obsessive Disorder, in addition to psychosi, most likely from the abuse . Great psychological thriller. I actually wanted more. I thought the tall handsome guy wasn’t really dead. That used cocaine and kissed that young boy.😂

Maybe after raising that baby she will kill the baby too if it makes her angry enough….. Shes psychotic!

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Room for Rent (2019) Review & Ending Explained

Room for Rent (2019) is a psychological horror mystery movie directed by Tommy Stovall . In the movie, Lin Shaye plays a lonely widow. She rents out rooms in her home and becomes horribly involved with her young renter.

Room for Rent Ending Explanation and Plot Story in Details

* * * Spoiler Alert – If you haven’t seen the movie yet, turn back now! * * *

Joyce Smith, an elderly housewife, is left distraught after her husband dies in a slip and fall accident while working on the roof. As far as she knows, he left no other assets of his own in his name, apart from $2,200 in savings. She is informed that he owed a significant amount on a loan.

Joyce notices a magazine about turning homes into beds and breakfasts while in the library, and later converts her home into one. As the first lodgers, Sarah and Edward, a young writer, move into the house. Although they bond with Sarah, Edward is turned off by her demeanor; they leave promptly, but keep in touch by letter.

Read similar movie, Dead Silence (2007)

Within a short time, Joyce’s house is occupied by a handsome young man named Bob. Making special dinners for him and dressing up to impress him, she becomes infatuated with him. In addition to a satellite dish, he gets an all-football channel. Sarah breaks up with Edward, visits Joyce, and shares an intimate night with Robert, causing a rift between her and Joyce.

Thanks to Joyce’s split-thinking and abandonment issues, Gladys, Joyce’s neighbor, recently fell out with her. Also, Gladys tells her that Fred forced Joyce to have an abortion. Gladys is suffocated with a pillow by Joyce after Sarah leaves.

In response to Bob’s question about where Sarah went, Joyce lies and says she has returned home to her husband, making Bob feel worthless. Joyce later confronts Bob after she finds her going through his belongings. Her son died many years ago and he reminds her of him. However, Bob remains cautious.

Bob is unconscious when Joyce spikes his food and then sexually assaults him while he is eating. In his belongings, she discovers money and cocaine, suggesting he is a drug dealer. Bob discovers a letter from Sarah after waking up, showing Joyce’s lies and manipulations. Joyce kills him by bludgeoning him with a frying pan as he collects his belongings to leave. He was going to move out when he confronted Joyce and got his belongings. Sarah continues to read Bob’s letter, in which she reveals to Bob that she is pregnant.

Having always wanted a child, Joyce invites Sarah to stay at her house while she uses Bob’s money for a vacation. The items that Bob left behind are buried in the backyard and Joyce disposes of his remains. Sarah attempts to enter Bob’s room, but it is locked. She is unaware that Joyce has remodeled the room into a nursery, leaving behind a welcoming sign from grandma, foreshadowing her return after she gives birth.

Last Scene Meaning and Explanation

After watching the whole movie, it is clear that day by day Joyce becoming a bigger liar. So, Joyce makes a setup in Bob’s room that indicates that he loves Sarah and their baby. If Sarah open Bob’s door then she wouldn’t find anything suspicious about Bob.

Now a question arises in your mind, ‘why Joyce does that?’

Okay, the fact is Joyce is alone and she fears this loneliness. Only for escaping her loneliness, she murdered two people. Joyce wants a person who only loves and cares for her. As a result, we see, at the beginning of the movie she loves Sarah but when she went into a relationship with Bob then Joyce becomes angry with her.

Back to the point ‘why Joyce put the poster?’. Well, it seems Joyce wants Sarah does not to leave the house until she gives birth to the baby.

It looks like, Joyce wants the baby who loves and cares only for her. So, maybe the plan for her is, when Sarah gives birth to the baby, Joyce will kill her too. Then she will take the baby and rise as her grandchild.

When the baby becomes an adult Joyce will tell him/her that his parents died in some accident or like that. Because Joyce has no hesitation to tell lie.

Review of the movie Room For Rent (2019)

The movie Room for Rent (2019) is a psychological horror movie except for any jump scares scene. Thus, the movie is mainly the story and performance-based entertainment.

Acting performance

Overall acting performance is averagely ranged. But Lin Shaye puts a remark on the movie. Her acting is so realistic and fluent. Her role as a psychopath is not an easy task when there is a lack of plot details, but she did her job strong-handed.

Lin Shaye got nominee as best actress in Fright Meter Awards 2019 .

Short Review

The movie plot is developed based on an old psychopath lady who is alone in her life. She gets two rents of her building. There the story moves.

On average, the plot story is fun and chilling. A little bit of uniqueness comes towards the viewers but not enough for impressed.

The ending has a twist but it breaks liability for lack of pre-details.

Good Points

• Good acting of Lin Shaye as an old psychopath
• The story is good enough to enjoy
• Contains a twist at the end
• I expected more professional direction from Tommy Stovall
• Predictable

Official Synopsis

After her husband is killed in an accident, lonely Joyce finds herself destitute and facing an uncertain future.  In an effort to make easy money, she turns her house into a Bed & Breakfast, exposing herself to people from an outside world and giving herself a new lease on life. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); She takes in mysterious drifter Bob as a long-term tenant.  Captivated by his bad boy image, Joyce becomes obsessed with her younger guest, making him the unwitting object of her deepest romantic fantasies.  When a friend’s betrayal causes Joyce’s fantasy world to come crashing down, she seizes control of her own destiny with a deadly mission to finally get what she deserves, putting those around her in danger. — Official Website

Original Title Room for Rent

Genre Psychological/ Horror/ Thriller

Runtime 1hr 21min

Original Language English

Directed by Tommy Stovall

Written by Stuart Flack

Tagline All she wanted was a decent man.

Release date May 7, 2019 (USA)

Origin Country United States

Cast of Characters

Official trailer.

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• Cast & crew
• User reviews

Room for Rent

Lonely widow Joyce rents out a room in her house and becomes dangerously obsessed with one of her guests. Lonely widow Joyce rents out a room in her house and becomes dangerously obsessed with one of her guests. Lonely widow Joyce rents out a room in her house and becomes dangerously obsessed with one of her guests.

• Tommy Stovall
• Stuart Flack
• Oliver Rayon
• Valeska Miller
• 85 User reviews
• 48 Critic reviews
• 1 nomination

• (as Casey Nicholas-Price)

• Delivery Man

• (as Rob Burson)
• Policewoman

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

• Goofs At about the 50 minute mark, Joyce visits her neighbor. While she is helping her neighbor take off her shoes on the couch you see the beige pillow switch (or flip over) to a maroon pillow.
• Soundtracks James Dean Written by Kenobi Performed by Kenobi

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 21 minutes

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