Considering it’s my job to check through a streaming service’s top 10 and highlight picks worth watching, it’s also part of my role to steer subscribers away from titles that aren’t worth their time. Netflix’s charts can be a tricky wall to climb, with “The Roommate” being a prime example: a compelling premise, a nostalgic 2000s poster, and the appeal of a psychological thriller (a genre audiences tend to gravitate toward). But this movie is definitely one to skip.
Welcome to Watch This, Not That, a column where we dig into the latest streaming top 10 picks, call out the one lackluster title you should skip, and highlight the better alternative you absolutely should watch instead.
“The Roommate” is about a college freshman, Sara (Minka Kelly), who moves into a dorm and is paired with Rebecca (Leighton Meester), her seemingly friendly roommate. As Sara begins building her own social life, Rebecca becomes increasingly possessive and unstable, turning their relationship into a dangerous situation. I watched this 10 years ago at a sleepover and still remember my friends and I being appalled. You only need to look at its shocking 3% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
I’ll take the frustration off your hands. I go through the charts so you don’t have to, pointing out the weaker picks, flagging them, and guiding you toward much better options. There’s actually a dark thriller on Hulu you should stream instead: “The Rental.” This movie very much leans into its psychological horror, and so here’s why you need to add this one to your watchlist this weekend.
‘The Rental’ is a gripping thriller rooted in believable drama
When it comes to intense psychological thrillers, “The Rental” is one that stands out. While it doesn’t lean into obsession or college-set teen revenge drama, it’s still a deeply unsettling story about mistrust and anxiety. It follows two couples — Charlie (Dan Stevens) and Michelle (Alison Brie), and Josh (Jeremy Allen White) and Mina (Sheila Vand) — who rent a remote Oregon Coast house for a weekend getaway. Their trip turns unsettling when they discover a hidden camera that may have caught something nobody was supposed to see.
“The Rental” feels like two distinct films combined into one. The first half focuses on a character-led drama exploring the complicated, messy relationships between four friends, none of whom are exactly role models for healthy behavior. The second half, though, shifts gears entirely into a dark thriller where things spiral out of control. And you definitely won't expect the third act.
The film’s biggest achievement is its constant sense of paranoia, with the final scenes offering some resolution but leaving plenty of tension lingering beforehand. It also marks a strong directorial debut for Dave Franco, who keeps the pacing sharp in under 90 minutes and pairs the dark story with a sleek, polished visual style. Safe to say this isn’t the thriller for you if you’re hoping for anything uplifting by the end. It can get seriously bleak.
Despite “The Roommate” sitting in Netflix’s top 10 right now, its bland characters and absence of real chills keep it from being even enjoyably bad. It’s just a movie you should avoid at all costs if you’re looking for a truly gripping thriller. That’s why “The Rental” on Hulu should be on your watchlist instead, since it features some compelling performances and a nerve-wracking psychological setup. If you want a thriller that will shock you, but still have real impact, this is the one to stream next.
Stream "The Rental" on Hulu now
