The Parenting (MAX)- This Movie Feels Tailor Made For Me
It is always a cabin in the woods. No one ever rents a haunted condo in Fort Lauderdale on a timeshare. It is always something oddly rustic in these horror movies. I like horror comedies more than straight horror because I feel like it is easier to be funny and poke fun at the genre, than it is to be reliant upon jump scares that don’t work. Most of my favorite horror titles have a tinge of comedy to them, so I was already predisposed to liking this.
the cast features a slew of people who need more awards recognition in their life, especially in terms of film work. Brian cox, Edie Falco, Lisa Kudrow, and Dean Norris play the “parents” who are brought out by their kids (two actors popular for roles on Netflix shows) that are dating, and preparing to propose to each other. before they seal the deal, they figure everyone should meet everyone.
but, in the opening sequence, we’re shown that not all is right in this house. And, when the owner (Parker Posey) leaves them, there really isn’t much faith that the problems went away. Shortly after everyone arrives, one of the parents becomes inhabited by a poltergeist, dramatically changing their personality, and the direction of the weekend.
This is my favorite film of 2025 so far, and I’ll probably be saying that at year’s end. I wish I could tell you the very specific reason this film spoke to me, but I felt like someone made this for me, and I thank them for doing so. However, favorite and technically proficient are not the same thing. Even though I adore this, I can see its faults.
There’s a best friend character here, Sarah, who is almost entirely pointless. The film falls into horror tropes, like people being pulled backward into the darkness, which are a little overdone. there’s a character we’re led to believe fully understands whaat weed gummies are, and then takes three of them so he’s extra stoned. it would be funny if he just had no idea, but he obviously did. He brought them.
And, while the film is called the Parenting, there really aren’t any rules here. The parents are all actually pretty fine and accepting of their kids, so you aren’t going to root for any harm to come to any of them. It would be funnier to show a truly dysfunctional family, but they really are only awkward because everyone is really meeting for the first time.
Yes, some of the jokes are crude. Some of those jokes work. It’s about using them in the right moment, which this seems to understand. There’s a standout performer here, but it would be a spoiler, as it is also the one who gets possessed. I reject the idea that we all walk into films neutrally. I walked in with raised expectations due to the cast and the genre. I ended up getting something unexpected, which really sold me on the film, but finding a grade that isn’t through the roof is the challenge.
the audio description by Laura Post was predictably good for a horror movie, focusing on the few moments of violence, or light horror gore. It isn’t a terribly scary, or gory affair, and it isn’t striving to be either. It is far more interested in making you laugh, and I thought the audio description did a balanced job of treating it as a horror comedy, sometimes highlighting the horror, and sometimes the comedy.
For a straight to streaming MAX title, I’m pleased. i think their last one was sweethearts, and this is better than that.
Fresh: final Grade: B+, Audio Description: A-
