Author of The Blood of Bones
Home entertainment has shifted dramatically in the last 10 years and one of the biggest losses were movie rental stores. Blockbuster, Hollywood Video and the small private video rental stores died out much like the dinosaurs, leaving a gaping hole in its wake. This idea plays an important role in Sam Krymalowski and Sean Kropveld’s entertaining debut novel The Man Who Came to Rent (Adelaide Books, 2021).
Told in 2009 when personal blogs, MySpace and streaming services were in their infancy, the narrative centers around Vic, a video store clerk in Canada who had aspirations to be an archeologist, and his personal blog. Told in blog posts, the novel acts as a digital confessional for the main character. His posts detail interactions with customers who frequent the store and their quirky personalities and tastes in films. From fleeting love interests in coffee shops to commentary on genre movies, Vic uses his blog as a method of being heard. The comments, usually from people acquainted with Vic, mirror the common interactions of anonymous posters.
The novel also acts as a mystery when Vic finds an old journal from a former employee. As he reads, he becomes fascinated at the mysterious disappearance of Clive and leads him down a trail involving seances, movie cults, wild parties, a boat ride in Haiti, undoing voodoo hexes, and other wacky experiences. Thus allowing Vic, whose life revolves around movies, to embark on his own real life adventure film.
In addition, the novel shows how the video store acted as a social hub for cinephiles and casual viewers alike. A neighborhood meet up and integral part of the community. The personal interactions, opportunities to discuss movies, frequent visitors and friendships created help the reader travel back to a time before algorithms and bots dictated our movie tastes.
Though written by two authors, the novel has a seamless and consistent feel and tone. The clever internet epistolary style fits the time period and characters and adds to the humor of the novel. The cast of characters, even ones who only show up briefly, are unique and original. Using our love of film, The Man Who Came to Rent is an ideal read for any movie lover who enjoys witty dialogue, intriguing mysteries, exciting adventures and original characters.
The Man Who Came to Rent 