You know what’s stressful? Meeting your loved one’s parents for the first time. More stressful? Meeting each other’s parents for the first time and introducing them to each other as you all spend the weekend together in a rental house out in the country. Now imagine that the house is haunted. That’s the grade B set-up for a grade A cast in “The Parenting,” about 20 percent comedy, 30 percent relationships, and 50 percent horror.
A short prologue is set in 1983, as a mother is making dinner in her avocado-green kitchen, wearing her lace bib and poofy-shouldered dress, and watching the last episode of “M*A*S*H.” She and her teenage son and daughter are whisked away by something creepy.
Then we’re in present day (cue a Dua Lipa song). The young couple arranging the meet-the-parents getaway is Rohan (Nik Dodani) and Josh (Brandon Flynn). Rohan is something of a perfectionist, and he is determined that every detail will be exactly right. That means not letting his parents know that Josh has lost his job and is planning to try to make it as a musician. Rohan has also confided in their best friend Sarah (Vivian Bang) that he is planning to find the perfect moment to propose.
Rohan and Josh are so delighted with the great deal they got on the beautiful house that they are more amused than creeped out by Brenda (Parker Posey), who is there to greet them. They don’t pay much attention when she tells them that the annual Worm Moon (the spring full moon, said to symbolize restoring balance) will appear during their stay. They do not notice the circle scratched into the floor of the entryway. And then there’s no time to notice anything because the parents arrive. Rohan’s parents are not-comfortable-talking-about-feelings Frank (Brian Cox) and judgy-and-more-than-willing-to-explain-why Sharon (Edie Falco). Josh’s are warm-hearted Liddy (Lisa Kudrow) and kindly Cliff (Dean Norris). The three couples’ initial moments together are awkward and uncomfortable.
Then, Josh accidentally walks in on Sharon in the bathroom. He thinks that will be the scariest and most upsetting moment of the weekend. It is not. He takes three weed gummies and slips a fourth into his pocket. But that isn’t enough to keep him calm when something grabs his leg under the dinner table. It isn’t until the next morning that the really eerie stuff begins. Frank is pale and acting strange. Josh asks Frank to pass the bread knife. Instead, Frank slashes Josh’s arm. And then all kinds of spooky stuff begins to happen.
Director Craig Johnson and screenwriter Kent Sublette (“Saturday Night Live”) find a nice balance for the boo-surprises, creepiness, and humor, with a resolution that brings everything and everyone together. Cox has a lot of fun being possessed, including a nude scene and projectile vomiting so powerful it could outdo a firehose. Posey has a blast playing the weird lady next door but no spoilers on exactly what kind of weird.
Those who are sensitive to the treatment of pets might want to check with doesthedogdie.com before buying a ticket. But this is not a slasher film. The characters get chances to help each other and most of the damage inflicted on the human and canine visitors is temporary, in keeping with the mildness of the tension-breaking humor. Sublette is clever enough to realize that the best way to get people staying in a rental house to say a certain phrase is to make it the WIFI password. And I note that the movie opens in theaters on March 14, the night of the 2025 Worm Moon. Just to be safe, better not try to say that password out loud.
