Launched by Ray Murray, founder of TLA Releasing and Artsploitation Films, Cinephobia Releasing is dedicated to presenting the most eye-opening genre and LGBTQ+ movies from around the world. The label is admittedly schizophrenic: offering both controversial, often sexually provocative dramas, edgy thrillers and uncompromising horror while also showcasing some of the best LGBTQ+ romances and dramas. Expect the unexpected.
Best friends since childhood, Ben and Jordan are two young men living in a rapidly changing Austin, where they navigate low-paying jobs, fraught relationships, and their own emotionally codependent friendship. When they suddenly lose their apartment, they come up with a last-ditch plan to spend the rest of the year “rent free”. They set out on a tragicomic journey across the couches, floors and guest rooms of their friends while desperately trying to save up enough money to leave behind a city they no longer recognize and flee for the promised land of New York City.
Made with a satirical bent and an ensemble cast, RENT FREE
is a high-anxiety comedy about a generation on the edge, as well as a poignant
exploration of male friendship and a city in flux.
directed by: Fernando Andrés
starring: Jacob Roberts, David Treviño, Molly Edelman, Zeke Goodman, Sarah J. Bartholomew
2024 / 93 min / 1.78:1 / English DTS-HD 2.0
Additional info:
Overall rating: 4.5555553 / 5 from 9 reviews.
Review topics: [].
"Frustrating film. Well acted, good pacing, well crafted. BUT — every character is insufferable. There’s no let up in how annoying everyone is — which may indeed be its point, but watching it turned into a chore, alas. || The short film in the extras is done very well, and the other special features are a lot of fun. The standard edition features some nice inner artwork, too."
"I fell in love with this movie when I first watched and absolutely had to have the physical media release. As a born and raised Austinite who has fallen out with the city but never fallen out of love… this hits the spot!"
"Another great experience from a great label. Saw it without any preconceptions and had a good time."
"A sometimes-sharp, sometimes-meandering comedy about some of the most insufferably entitled and whiny people you could ever hope not to meet. Ben (Jacob Roberts) and Jordan (David Treviño) are longtime best friends and aimless loafers from Austin, Texas. Ben is now living his dream in NYC, a gay man's mecca, by mooching a place to live from a well-off college buddy and his wife. But on the last night of Jordan's visit to NY, Ben does something. . . not very respectful. . . and gets kicked out. With no money and no place to go, he dejectedly heads back to Austin and crashes at the place Jordan shares with his girlfriend. However, this becomes the impetus for her to reevaluate their one-sided relationship, and both men become homeless, feebly developing a plan to couch-surf for a year until they save enough money to move together to NYC. Many complications ensue. Though the learned helplessness of the characters and their expectations of the world to provide for them, despite their undeservedness, are infuriating, the results of their myopic idiocy and their acid-tongued dialogue are often hilarious. And there's something to be said for going for what you want, regardless of your worthiness or means. As much as I wanted to shake them, I was oddly charmed by their spirited scheming, indiscriminate manipulations, and single-minded camaraderie. The writing and pacing unfortunately take a dip in the third act, with an attempted tonal shift to something more reflective and poignant that isn't totally successful. Plus, it mines a few too many of the indie-film tropes, so it isn't exactly revelatory in any way. But overall, I was definitely amused by the devilish humor and the goofy audacity of these schmucks who think they're the ones who are going to crack the code of how to get through life without committing to anything other than their own selfish desires."
"Definitely worth a look on disc"
"Excellent buddy film with an LBGTQ gloss that really captures the Gen Z post-college experience"
"A decent indie comedy"
"Love this new sub label!"
"PHENOMENAL!!!!!"
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