Jump to the good stuff: The Story | Some Thoughts | The Final Verdict
The Story:
The Parenting is a comedy/horror about a gay couple, Rohan (Nik Dodani) and Josh (Brandon Flynn), who rent a remote house in the country for a weekend with their parents.
Since Rohan will have both families together, he’s going to propose to Josh. However, Rohan’s plans for a romantic, carefree weekend start to go south when his mother, Sharon (Edie Falco), discovers that Josh is unemployed. Soon Sharon begins to clash with Josh’s parents, Liddy (Lisa Kudrow) and Cliff (Dean Norris), and things go from bad to worse when Rohan’s father, Frank (Brian Cox), becomes possessed by a four-hundred-year-old demon.
Some Thoughts:
The Parenting is the perfect blend of comedy and horror. The supernatural aspect of the plot is kept simple, with everything being shown up front and explained at the end.
The actors work well together, with each giving solid performances. It also helps that they all understand comedic timing and how to make it all look natural. Parker Posey, as the woman who rents the house out to Rohan and Josh, is a bit over the top, but she’s used sparingly, so all the fun antics come from the haunting and not her. This also gives the story an even keel.
The movie unfolds at a steady pace, delivering chuckles and a few guffaws along the way. There aren’t any surprises or unexpected scares, but it has some moody scenes along with the typical demonic possession tropes. And while there’s nothing outstanding about the film, director Craig Johnson understands what makes horror fans laugh.
The Final Verdict:
The Parenting may not break any new ground, but it delivers a fun dose of comedy and horror, which is all anybody should expect.