Quoted from Sandra Elstree. "Rented shoes" I think was a deliberate metaphor for the lives we are all living and walking in as being not permanent and we must give them (it) back after awhile.

Exactly!!!

I read the rented shoes part an extra time as well. I thought it said a lot about the characters...  Maybe I'm weird.

Actually I was being sarcastic but they don't really have a sarcastic smilie.  I think this script delves into the realm of art film and it doesn't really belong there.  What is a metaphor about shoes doing in a horror film?  I don't want to even get into the fact that he never explains exactly why she didn't say yes.  That really irked me.

Holy shit.  They're rented shoes.  Shoes a guy rented.  I can't believe I've seen 5 posts discussing it.

HaHa...there we go.  I counted at least 4 times the "rented shoes" was used, and each time, I had to laugh...harder...and harder...and...then I got pissed.  Stupid...no reason to use the term once.

Another example of how little was going on here that the writer could reference "rented shoes" 4 or more times!  OK, my tangent is over. Thanks for seeing that and commenting, you guys.  I was hoping I wasn't going insane...completely.

I thought the rented shoes along with things like the inexpensive ring and the borrowed house said a lot...

It was his Dad's house.

You think that "rented shoes" being used 4 times isn't a bit overborad?

Most guys "rent" their shoes when wearing, and usually "renting" a tux.  They were driving a frickin' Saturn...they obviously weren't of money, but all that didn't matter at all...and never came into play.

Sure, no need to be repetitive, however the rest said to me they were young people in love hoping for a nice romantic weekend using his dad's house (they borrowed it) the cheap ring and the cheap car.

Don't take me wrong, I had plenty of issues with this script, but the rented shoes weren't really part of it.

Quoted from mcornetto Actually I was being sarcastic but they don't really have a sarcastic smilie.  I think this script delves into the realm of art film and it doesn't really belong there.  What is a metaphor about shoes doing in a horror film?  I don't want to even get into the fact that he never explains exactly why she didn't say yes.  That really irked me.

The unresolved part of why she didn't say yes irked me too. Maybe though we're missing something. I think we might be here.

As to this:

What is a metaphor about shoes doing in a horror film?

Maybe I'm weird too, but why not? Is it against the horror code or something? Are there Horror police?  

Sandra

Quoted from Grandma Bear I thought the rented shoes along with things like the inexpensive ring and the borrowed house said a lot...

It may say a lot if the audience could see it. But calling something a rented shoe in the script means nothing unless it can be shown to be a rented shoe.

He might have well said that his back account was empty and that he owed $400 to his bookie.

Quoted from Murphy It may say a lot if the audience could see it. But calling something a rented shoe in the script means nothing unless it can be shown to be a rented shoe. He might have well said that his back account was empty and that he owed $400 to his bookie.

I haven't seen the movie yet; so I can't comment on that. If they didn't show it, they could have and should have showed it-- that is, if they were going for this aspect.

Sandra

Quoted from Sandra Elstree. The unresolved part of why she didn't say yes irked me too. Maybe though we're missing something. I think we might be here.

I don't think we are missing anything.  I think he purposefully left that a mystery - more on the art film front.   I think he was trying to make his horror film artsy and I think it really didn't work, the artsy-ness became bothersome and brought down the tension level.  If this were an art film with a horror theme then maybe my expectations would have been different.  I don't have a problem with artsy or horror, just the mix he tried to make.

Quoted from Sandra Elstree. I haven't seen the movie yet; so I can't comment on that. If they didn't show it, they could have and should have showed it-- that is, if they were going for this aspect. Sandra

Not talking about the film Sandra, the script just says "rented shoes". A classic of example of telling and not showing.

Back to the damned shoes

I disagree GM. It would simply be shown as not spiffy new shiny shoes, but scuffed and maybe not fitting perfectly... at least to me.  

Giles, you are 100% correct, and that's my entire point!  You can't show that they are rented shoes, and we as a viewing audience, never know that they're rented shoes...nor would we give 3 shits.

Right on brother for saying this again, cause it's something that we should all probably discuss...

A few have said they appreciated "reading" that James was wearing "rented shoes", and the fact that Bertino wrote it 4 times, didn't pose a problem for them...they actually thought it was good characterization.

Know what I mean?

Shelton...that's like 10 posts on the "rented shoes" now!!!!!