Today I took the time to watch “The Parenting Movie.” Before watching it, I hadn’t even seen the trailer. I was expecting a family drama, but it turned out to be a horror film. After watching it, in my personal opinion, director Craig Johnson shouldn’t have called it “The Parenting Movie” because the title doesn’t have much to do with the film’s plot. However, after watching it, I’m sharing my detailed review.
Before talking about the story, let’s take a look at the actors who gave remarkable performances in this film. The film runs approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, and the entire shoot took place in a large mansion. Since the plot is limited to a single location, the cast is relatively small.
The film stars Brandon Flynn (Josh), Nik Dodani (Rohan), Brian Cox (Frank), Edie Falco (Sharon), Lisa Kudrow (Liddy), Dean Norris (Cliff), Vivian Bang (Sara), and the center of attention, Parker Posey (Brenda). These actors played important roles and helped shape the film. The director of this film is Craig Johnson, and the screenwriter’s contribution is also notable.
Review of The Parenting (2025)
Everyone wants to spend their vacation in the best possible way. People often travel to tourist destinations with their friends and family. In this film, Josh and Rohan rent a huge house to spend quality time together.
Josh and Rohan are an LGBTQ+ couple. Their purpose in coming here was not only to enjoy a vacation, but also to introduce their families and take their relationship to the next level by proposing marriage.
When Josh and Rohan’s families arrive at the rented hotel, everyone begins to enjoy their time together. However, on the first night, strange incidents begin to occur. Rohan’s father begins behaving uncharacteristically: he begins harming himself and even attempts to attack members of his own family.
The screenwriter has attempted to make the story intriguing by connecting the present with past events. However, at times, the film struggles to maintain the audience’s interest.
The Horror Experience and Its Shortcomings
The film attempts to offer a terrifying experience, but at times it struggles. The elements of suspense and suspense could have been enhanced, but that would have increased the film’s length. However, I personally think a little more suspense could have made it more engaging.
Furthermore, some unnecessary scenes have been added, making the film seem a bit dull at times. However, the final segment is well-executed and quite entertaining. The climax scene is particularly interesting, especially due to the use of Latin at a crucial moment.
Performance of the Lead Actors
Brandon Flynn: I’ve seen some of his previous films and Netflix series. His performance in 13 Reasons Why was outstanding. In this film, he also did justice to his role. I’d give his performance a 3.5⭐.
Nik Dodani: I haven’t seen any of his other films or TV shows, but his performance in this one was quite impressive. He held his own alongside Brandon Flynn, delivering a commendable performance. I’d give his performance a 3.3⭐.
Final Thoughts on ‘The Parenting’
I’ve seen many horror movies before, but The Parenting blends family drama and horror in a unique way. It also attempts to incorporate comedy, and some scenes are genuinely funny. Perhaps this is due to the team’s clever writing, direction, and execution of jokes.
While I wouldn’t call this movie a disaster, it’s not remarkable enough to warrant multiple viewings either. Watching it at 1.25x speed on HBO might make it more engaging, reducing its runtime to about an hour. Overall, it’s a short, straightforward film with some entertaining moments.
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