The Parenting

I wanted to like it, but If it wasn't for the supporting cast this wouldn't have worked, but they make it watchable. The humor is shallow and clichéd, but the performances are the backbone of this one.

The star power of the cast is really the only selling point here, and without them it's not worth the watch. Brian Cox was hilarious and demonstrated his range once again. Lisa Kudrow and Dean Norris actually complement each other quite well here. Parker Posey breathes life into the tired caricature of the cooky stranger, Edie Falco was meh and the two main characters lack good chemistry and depth.

Not a bad movie, it's just flat. It has redeeming moments, but for the most part, pairing a cast this talented with such a mediocre script leaves a bad taste in the mouth.

If bringing families together is already a challenge in everyday life, imagine doing it in an isolated setting while also dealing with supernatural events. "The Parenting" takes this classic premise, mixing horror and comedy to create a weekend none of the characters will forget. The result is a film that plays with genre conventions without fully committing to any of them, balancing scares, humor, and a subtle exploration of family relationships. With a cast full of veteran talent and direction that knows how to handle both social awkwardness and well-timed scares, the movie entertains without necessarily reinventing the wheel. Its biggest strength lies in how it weaves these elements together cohesively, never letting one aspect completely overshadow the others.

The story follows Rohan (Nik Dodani) and Josh (Brandon Flynn), a couple who decide to bring their families together for a weekend getaway-a plan that already carries some natural tension, which only worsens when they realize the house they've rented is haunted. The script makes good use of the characters' dynamics, building the initial interactions with sharp humor and a generous dose of awkwardness. The arrival of the parents only adds to the friction: on one side, there's Frank (Brian Cox) and Sharon (Edie Falco), rigid and emotionally reserved; on the other, Liddy (Lisa Kudrow) and Cliff (Dean Norris), much more affectionate and open. The exchanges of snide remarks and uncomfortable glances set the tone for the film's first half, while small details subtly hint that something is off about the house.

The suspense builds effectively within the film's lighthearted approach, with subtle clues stacking up until they culminate in more explicit horror moments. The presence of Brenda (Parker Posey), the house's eccentric caretaker, already brings a mix of comedy and unease. The chalk circle on the floor, the full moon, and the history of past disappearances are introduced casually, but the looming threat gradually escalates until the first truly shocking scene-when Frank violently attacks Josh-flips the switch into supernatural horror. From that point on, the film leans into its more grotesque side, with possessions, high-velocity projectile vomiting, and sequences that feel like a "light" version of "Evil Dead."

The movie's biggest asset is its cast. Brian Cox is clearly having a blast playing a possessed patriarch, delivering a performance that swings between menacing and ridiculously funny. Parker Posey, with her natural knack for eccentric characters, steals every scene she's in, adding mystery and unintentional humor. Lisa Kudrow and Dean Norris have great chemistry as the more approachable, laid-back parents, while Edie Falco adds depth to her judgmental character, making her more human rather than just a caricature. Meanwhile, Nik Dodani and Brandon Flynn work well as the central couple, though the film is far more interested in the interactions between the veteran actors than in their relationship.

Craig Johnson's direction keeps the pacing tight, never letting the film linger too long in either genre. There's a well-balanced blend of horror and comedy, something that could easily spiral out of control if the tone wasn't carefully managed. Kent Sublette's script, on the other hand, has a great sense of comedic timing, especially in how it integrates humor organically into the horror setting-like the creative way the characters accidentally utter a cursed phrase because it's the Wi-Fi password. Still, the film avoids excessive self-awareness or meta-humor, opting for laughs that come naturally from absurd situations rather than relying solely on references or parody.

Visually, "The Parenting" doesn't try to reinvent the horror aesthetic but makes solid use of classic elements. The house itself is a pretty generic "haunted mansion" setting, but the cinematography takes full advantage of its wide spaces and unsettling shadows to build tension. The practical effects are well executed, especially in the possession scenes, and the lighting in the final act-when the mystery of the house is fully revealed-adds a genuinely eerie atmosphere.

"The Parenting" knows exactly what it wants to be: a light horror flick that never takes itself too seriously but also doesn't descend into complete farce. It leans on its talented cast and sharp humor to make the experience more fun than scary, delivering well-placed jump scares, solid laughs, and a storyline that, while predictable, unfolds in an engaging way. It may not be a standout in the genre, but it works as a well-crafted piece of entertainment-one of those movies that's worth the watch and might even make some viewers think twice before saying random Wi-Fi passwords out loud.

Look, for what it's worth, i don't find this movie to be terrible. However I do think it fails in comedic aspect. So many awkward moments that were supposed to be funny but just didn´t land for me.

I found the horror elements better creating a weird mix of horror with cringy dialgogue. To add to that, despite having a great cast it just felt they were underutilized.

The premise of the film was quite fun and I do believe it had so much potential. That and the actors (especially Brandon Flynn´s charismatic presence) made me hang on till the end.

If you want to watch a film that blends horror with humor there are better ones like The Cabin in the Woods.

There are a lot of talented actors, but the movie itself seems completely lost. It doesn't know whether it wants to be scary or funny, and in the end, it's neither. The only real saving grace is Parker Posey, who, as always, steals every scene she's in with her charisma and energy. Beyond that, the so-called "jokes" feel tired and overused, the character development is clumsy and unnatural, and the pacing is unbearably slow. It drags on without any real purpose, making the whole experience frustrating. What could have been an entertaining film ends up as a messy, forgettable disappointment....

I was a little skeptical at first about this movie because horror comedies haven't been very strong in recent years. When you think of great horror comedies, movies like Tucker and Dale vs. Evil or Shaun of the Dead come to mind, but it's hard to think of a recent horror comedy that was both enjoyable and genuinely funny. At first, this also sounded like just another haunted house movie, with the only twist being gay protagonists. However, the script by Kent Sublette and the direction by Craig Johnson proved me wrong.

The movie manages to be funny on multiple levels, and even though the humor didn't always land-which is completely normal for comedy movies-I laughed out loud a few times, which is pretty rare. It had a few great running gags, and some of the characters were absolutely hilarious. The cast was fantastic, with everyone completely understanding the assignment and portraying their characters in an enjoyable and funny way.

This won't go down as a horror-comedy classic, but it was quite entertaining, and I enjoyed it for the most part. I would have loved for the horror elements to be a bit stronger, as that could have elevated the movie even more, but otherwise, this is a solid film that was actually funny in many ways. [6,1/10]