Atanaria
In a cinematic landscape overflowing with horror comedies that try (and often fail) to capture the spirit of Gen Z, The Parenting manages to do something rare—it actually understands the assignment. Rather than defaulting to lazy caricatures or overly ironic detachment, this Max original film delivers sharp satire, endearing characters, and a genuinely funny script, all wrapped in a genre-bending package that plays with horror tropes while maintaining a strong emotional core.
Directed by Craig Johnson (Wilson, The Skeleton Twins) and written by Saturday Night Live veteran Kent Sublette, The Parenting is a send-up of both generational anxieties and supernatural thrillers. At its heart, though, it’s a deeply relatable story about one of life’s most universal fears: meeting your partner’s parents.
A Meet-the-Parents Weekend from Hell (Literally)
The story follows Josh (Brandon Flynn, 13 Reasons Why) and Rohan (Nik Dodani, Atypical), a young gay couple heading into a weekend getaway with a mission—to finally introduce each other to their parents. Their picturesque plan unravels almost immediately as clashing personalities, lingering tensions, and one very haunted Airbnb rental begin to turn things chaotic. And just when you think it’s going to be a simple family comedy, the demon possession kicks in.
Despite the absurd supernatural twist, the film stays grounded thanks to its well-drawn characters and impressive ensemble cast. Lisa Kudrow and Dean Norris play Josh’s awkwardly well-meaning, middle-class parents, while Edie Falco and Brian Cox are Rohan’s intimidating, wealthy adoptive parents. All four actors deliver comedic performances with just enough emotional nuance to make their characters more than just punchlines.
Cox, in particular, subverts expectations, bringing a surprising tenderness to his typically gruff onscreen persona. Meanwhile, Kudrow leans fully into her role as a clueless mom with perfect comedic timing, and Falco proves she can do deadpan comedy as deftly as she can deliver dramatic gravitas. Parker Posey also pops in as a scene-stealing eccentric who wouldn’t feel out of place in a Kristen Wiig sketch, cementing the film’s SNL-inflected tone.
A Clever Mash-Up of Horror Nostalgia and Modern Sensibility
One of The Parenting’s greatest strengths is its balance of homage and originality. The film opens with a neon-lit, visually retro sequence reminiscent of 1980s horror classics—complete with ominous synths and slow zooms. These stylistic flourishes carry over into the present-day setting, helping the film maintain a sense of heightened reality that’s perfect for a horror comedy. There are nods to The Exorcist, The Shining, and even Meet the Fockers, but the film never relies too heavily on reference for its laughs.
Instead, the humor emerges organically from character interactions and well-observed generational dynamics. From a weed gummy mistaken for a multivitamin to a cursed Wi-Fi password that inadvertently summons a demon, the script is filled with moments that feel both absurd and weirdly believable. These details ground the story in a Gen Z reality without feeling like a cringe-worthy attempt to pander.
Refreshingly Queer, Without Making a Statement of It
What’s perhaps most refreshing is the way The Parenting treats its central relationship. Josh and Rohan’s queerness is present, acknowledged, and—most importantly—not the point of the movie. Their relationship is allowed to be funny, messy, and real in a way that mirrors heterosexual rom-com pairings. It’s not a coming-out story or a trauma narrative—it’s a story about two people navigating love, family, and one very awkward dinner party… with demons.
In an era when queer characters are often either hyper-sanitized or reduced to one-note identities, The Parenting lets Josh and Rohan exist in a fully fleshed-out, funny, and emotionally honest way. Their banter feels real, their chemistry is palpable, and their dynamic is the heart of the film, even as the supernatural hijinks escalate.
Not Without Flaws, But Still a Standout
That’s not to say the film is perfect. It takes a little too long to get to its main twist, and there’s a particularly egregious fart joke that undercuts the otherwise clever writing. Some may also find that the horror elements, while fun, never fully commit to being scary. But this is less a flaw and more a matter of tone—the film clearly prioritizes comedy over chills, and it’s all the better for it.
The dialogue is consistently sharp, the pacing mostly tight, and the direction polished without losing a sense of playfulness. You can feel the SNL DNA in some of the sketch-like moments, but unlike many modern comedies, the movie knows when to rein itself in and focus on story.
A Gen Z Flavored Delight
The Parenting is more than just a horror-comedy—it’s a savvy, heartfelt satire about generational conflict, modern relationships, and the weird, awkward mess of family. It’s one of the few Gen Z-focused films that neither talks down to its audience nor overcompensates by trying to be “too online.” Instead, it delivers a funny, fresh take on a well-worn genre and manages to stand out in a crowded field of horror parodies and forgettable comedies.
It may not win any Oscars, but The Parenting is a crowd-pleasing, sharp-witted film that knows exactly what it’s doing. And if you’ve ever endured an awkward family dinner—or just wished your Wi-Fi password didn’t open a portal to hell—you’ll probably find something to love here.
