The Parenting – Movie Review (3/5)

THE PARENTING on Max is a star-studded comedy-horror film about a haunted house with a demonic presence. The cast alone is enough to make me want to rewatch this one. Read our full The Parenting movie review here!

THE PARENTING is a new Max Original comedy-horror film with the most amazing cast. Every time a new character showed up, it was another very familiar face delivering. In some cases, portraying a very atypical character but always nailing it.

And yes, this is a comedy-horror with the comedy being at the center, but the horror is also very much at the forefront. After all, this is about a haunted house with a demon wanting to enter this world through one of the guests. The runtime is 100 minutes.

Continue reading our The Parenting movie review below. Find it on Max from March 13, 2025.

Meet the Parents in a Haunted House

The Parenting follows the happy and loving young couple Rohan (Nik Dodani) and Josh (Brandon Flynn) right as they’re meeting and introducing their parents. This alone can be a somewhat tense ordeal – not least with different backgrounds and them being gay.

While their sexuality, which is obviously already known by their respective families, is never an issue, their parents are very different. This quickly makes for some awkward moments, and the perfect weekend getaway is about to turn very weird.

Rohan’s parents are the more traditional and well-educated Sharon (Edie Falco) and Frank (Brian Cox). Josh’s parents, on the other hand, are the happy-go-lucky and laid-back Liddy (Lisa Kudrow) and Cliff (Dean Norris).

Their differences will soon be the least of their problems as the gorgeous rental – managed by eccentric local Brenda (Parker Posey) – turns out to be haunted. Not by any cute little Casper the Friendly Ghost, but by the presence of a 400-year-old poltergeist.

Before long, one of the parents becomes possessed. Delicious practical effects (and very colorful language) make the shift quite brutal. And also very entertaining. It’s now up to the young couple and their BFF Sara (Vivian Bang) to unite the families and stop the demon.

A great cast having fun

While the storyline in The Parenting worked really well for me, I’m still very much aware that the casting is what made it all come together. From Nik Dodani (Twisters) and Brandon Flynn (Hellraiser) as the loving young couple, with Vivian Bang as their best friend, we were off to a great start.

Add Parker Posey (Mr. & Mrs. Smith series) to the mix as the couple arrives at the huge, gorgeous rental, and you know things are about to get freaky. Her hair alone was almost a character in itself, and I loved it.

Then Brian Cox (The Autopsy of Jane Doe) and Edie Falco (The Mother) show up as the very conservative parents of Rohan. They love their son but also have very high expectations. This leads to a new shift in the dynamic.

Mostly due to Rohan turning into a little boy trying to please his parents all the time.

Finally, Lisa Kudrow (No Good Deed) and Dean Norris (Carry-On) join them, and the situation changes yet again. Josh’s mom has brought along food as the most natural thing in the world. She only wants people to be happy and comfortable.

In the end, it becomes a kind of superpower that they are so different. Everyone can play to their strengths to help defeat a powerful poltergeist, which will only get confused by this very motley crew.

Watch The Parenting on Max

The Parenting is directed by Craig Johnson (The Skeleton Twins, School Spirits) and was written by Kent Sublette (Saturday Night Live, Lucky). It’s a classic genre-mix of a movie, and I do like those.

This Max Original comedy-horror film is the kind of movie that should leave you with a smile on your face. During the movie, you may experience jump scares, utter disgust, surprising laughter, and (sometimes) bewilderment.

I enjoyed it even though I recognize this hybrid isn’t for everyone. As someone who likes horror and comedy and how the genres can gel together, I was a happy camper. Will I watch it again? I just might, but mostly due to the cast.

The Parenting debuts on Max on March 13, 2025.

Details

Director: Craig Johnson
Script: Kent Sublette
Cast: Nik Dodani, Brandon Flynn, Brian Cox, Edie Falco, Lisa Kudrow, Dean Norris, Parker Posey, Vivian Bang