The Parenting (2025) - Film Review

      The Parenting, 2025.

      Directed by Craig Johnson.

      Featuring Nik Dodani, Brandon Flynn, Brian Cox, Edie Falco, Lisa Kudrow, Dean Norris, Parker Posey, Vivian Bang, Chloe Sciore, Kate Avallone, and John Hawe.

      SYNOPSIS:

      A couple rents a rural house for a weekend with their parents, only to discover that it is home to a 400-year-old poltergeist.

      In Craig Johnson's gross-out comedy/campy supernatural horror, blending elements from The Parenting (written by Kent Sublette), Rohan (Nik Dodani) has planned a weekend retreat in the countryside with his boyfriend Josh (Brandon Flynn), which serves as a family gathering to meet both sets of parents, filled with activities and ending in a marriage proposal. However, two issues arise: their dog sitter and Sara (Vivian Bang) have inadvertently spoiled the surprise. The second, more pressing issue, is that the eccentric Brenda (Parker Posey), who is renting the house, is concealing a history of demonic possession.

      A prologue previews the horror to come by showing a demon (typically seen through the perspective of a black, monstrous arm with a clawed hand) picking off an ’80s family one by one. Many of the jump scares and kills are shot from deliberately chosen angles, providing an energetic start. While it doesn't aim to be bloody or genuinely terrifying, nor does it strive for period authenticity (the characters’ exaggerated portrayal resembles amusing cosplay), there are stylistic shot selections and a haunting atmosphere, with the house’s wallpaper peeling off in sections.

      The tone shifts sharply in the present as Rohan and Josh joke about potential mishaps over the weekend. Things quickly deteriorate as we meet both sets of parents, with Dean Norris and Lisa Kudrow embodying the carefree nature of Josh, while Edie Falco and Brian Cox portray Rohan’s ambitious adoptive parents, who have instilled a drive for excellence in him. Much of the comedy from the family interactions is broad and juvenile (mining laughter from everything from bodily functions to other awkward situations) and highlights the couples' differences, yet it effectively resonates, showcasing a charismatic ensemble with impeccable delivery. At times, it's so amusing that the audience may hesitate for the story to shift back into its horror elements.

      However, after some engaging banter and mishaps, Brian Cox’s laid-back Frank unintentionally becomes a conduit for a demon in search of a human host. This results in typical genre behavior where his persona oscillates between normality and increasing oddness, injecting comedic elements reminiscent of Scary Movie. Essentially, it effectively combines tropes from Meet the Parents and exorcism stories.

      While enjoyable, The Parenting gradually loses momentum as it occasionally veers into familiar horror plot clichés. Although there are memorable quotes and gags (like Dean Norris’s interaction with a possessed dog or Brian Cox's oscillation between polite and crass behaviors), some parts can feel sluggish. The campiness begins to wane, especially during a climactic sequence that is both cheap and forgettable. On a positive note, there is a mid-credits scene where the characters humorously address the demon's silly appearance. Some jokes also become predictable, including the demon’s over-the-top gay jokes, humorously justified as coming from an earlier generation.

      The cast, particularly the parents, drive The Parenting. This isn't to diminish the charm of Nik Dodani and Brandon Flynn, who also portray their characters' love being tested amidst family dysfunction and supernatural disturbances while realizing their similarities to their parents. Yet it's the seasoned veterans bickering and exchanging zany, sometimes vulgar dialogue that stands out. The film is worth watching just for Dean Norris's quips.

      Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★

      Robert Kojder, a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, Critics Choice Association, and Online Film Critics Society, also serves as Flickering Myth’s Reviews Editor. Check for new reviews and follow him on BlueSky or Letterboxd.