Alps Offers a More Probing Look at Emotional Surrogacy Than 'Rental Family'

Yorgos Lanthimos' film takes a deeper dive into the complexities of outsourcing grief and human connection.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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While Brendan Fraser's 'Rental Family' on Hulu explores the concept of renting a 'replacement family' in Japan, Yorgos Lanthimos' 'Alps' offers a more nuanced and unsettling take on the idea of emotional surrogacy. Unlike 'Rental Family', which maintains a feel-good tone, 'Alps' embraces the thorniness of the topic, delving into the twisted psychology of both the surrogates and their clients as they try to find a market solution for the messiness of human emotion.

Why it matters

The films offer contrasting perspectives on the commodification of human connection and the futility of trying to optimize the grieving process. 'Alps' challenges the notion that imagination can truly substitute for reality, while 'Rental Family' operates under the assumption that emotional catharsis can be achieved through artificiality.

The details

In 'Alps', an entrepreneurial group offers themselves as 'substitutes' for the recently departed, rebuilding their imitation of the deceased from small details. The most prominent storyline follows a hospital nurse known as 'Monte Rosa' who takes on the role of a teenage tennis player after a car crash, without the family's knowledge. As Monte Rosa becomes increasingly immersed in her character, the line between herself and the tennis player blurs, leading to more confusion rather than closure. In contrast, 'Rental Family' follows Brendan Fraser's character, Phillip Vanderploeg, as he finds employment at a rental family agency in Tokyo, playing various roles for clients.

  • Rental Family is now streaming on Hulu.
  • Alps was released prior to Yorgos Lanthimos becoming an Academy Award-nominated director.

The players

Rental Family

A film that explores the concept of renting a 'replacement family' in Japan, directed by Hikari and co-written with Stephen Blahut.

Alps

A film by Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos that delves into the complexities of emotional surrogacy, co-written with Efthymis Fillipou.

Brendan Fraser

The lead actor in Rental Family, playing the role of Phillip Vanderploeg.

Angeliki Papoulia

The actress who plays the role of 'Monte Rosa' in Alps.

Yorgos Lanthimos

The Greek director known for his unconventional and thought-provoking films, including Alps and the Academy Award-nominated Poor Things.

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What they’re saying

“Unlike Phillip, whose trajectory bends in the direction of enlightenment, Monte Rosa experiences increasing chaos as the line blurs between herself and her character.”

— Marshall Shaffer, Film journalist (Decider)

“Lanthimos understands the ridiculousness of finding a market solution for a problem deep in the soul. His drolly satirical lens delights in finding the more banal areas where irrationality masquerades as logic in everyday life.”

— Marshall Shaffer, Film journalist (Decider)

What’s next

As Yorgos Lanthimos continues to gain recognition in Hollywood, Alps may see renewed interest and critical analysis, particularly in comparison to the more mainstream approach of Rental Family.

The takeaway

The contrasting approaches of Rental Family and Alps highlight the complexities of the human experience, challenging the notion that emotional connections can be commodified or replaced. While Rental Family maintains a feel-good tone, Alps delves deeper into the psychological and existential implications of outsourcing grief and human connection.