“The Parenting” (2025), HBO Max’s latest, is a heavy-handed genre-bending attempt that vacillates between campy merriment and vexing ineptness. Directed by Craig Johnson and written by Kent Sublette, the film survives to work, largely due to momentary flashes of comedic brilliance by its veteran actors. In addition, it has some usual horror jump-scares that blend seamlessly with outrageously hilarious moments, making the film enjoyable in patches, particularly if you are in for some B-movie cheers.
The Parenting (2025) Max Movie Synopsis & Plot Summary:
A quick opening sequence shows a family of three dying at the hands of an unseen terror. This monster kills the mother and the elder brother before proceeding to terrify the youngest member of the family, a teenage girl named Allie. Years pass, and now the same house is used as a holiday getaway destination. Rohan (Nik Dodani) and Josh (Brandon Flynn) choose the same for their romantic getaway. However, this holiday is particularly special, as they have invited their respective parents to join them too.
The young couple is nervous about meeting each other’s parents. Rohan is a bit uptight and planned the entire weekend so that nothing could go wrong. On the other hand, Josh is the more carefree one, itching to pop one marijuana laced gummy whenever situations start to become stressful. Their parents reflect a vibe similar to their respective children. Before the parents can join their party, the boys meet their host, Brenda (a fine Parker Posey), an eccentric woman who is seen drawing a circle around the house. Branda gives them a Latin phrase as their Wi-Fi password.
After Brenda takes her leave, the parents enter the scene. Frank (Brian Cox) and Sharon (Edie Falco), Rohan’s adoptive parents, are the first to arrive. Then comes Liddy (Lisa Kudrow) and Cliff (Dean Norris), Josh’s parents. Initial awkwardness and some hilarious offputting moments aside, the first day goes well as the three couples retreat to their rooms for the night. Now, the Latin Wi-Fi Password phrase has already been uttered twice. While connecting to the Wi-Fi, Frank utters the phrase for the third time in total, in the middle of the night.
He goes into a trance and follows some foreboding commands to get inside the basement. A monstrous hand reaches out to him, and Frank submits himself to that entity. Meanwhile, Rohan and Josh’s mutual friend, Sara (Vivian Bang), comes to join them as she misreads some of Josh’s text messages as a cry for help. The next morning, all hell starts to break loose. A seemingly possessed Frank starts to attack everyone, starting with Josh. Josh and Rohan then encounter the ghost of the mother who died in the opening scene. While they are fighting that, Sara faces a supernatural challenge from the elder brother’s ghost.
The Parenting (2025) Max Ending Explained:
Who Called the Demon ‘Andras’ in This World?
By evening, everyone, apart from Sharon, has some sort of otherworldly encounter. They also find a book where they are pointed to the pages describing a demon named ‘Andras.’ Moreover, this demon has the face of a raven and the body of a man. Most of them are convinced that Andras has possessed Frank’s body. However, Sharon is not convinced. She takes Frank’s dinner to his room, where he is resting from a high fever.
She is later attacked by Frank, and Josh saves her. The party locks Frank in his room and barricades the door. Andras, through Frank, taunts Josh and Rohan’s sexuality. Meanwhile, one of the possessed dogs attacks Liddy while she is bonding with a distraught Sharon. Cliff takes care of the dog. Rohan and Josh see a light outside the house and go to inquire. They find Brenda in another house. After some prodding, Brenda confesses her elaborate scheme to get Andras a body. She hoped Andras would be able to get Josh or Rohan’s body, seeing how young they were.
Anyway, Brenda reveals she was a friend of Allie, the youngest daughter from the opening scene. She and Allie brought the demon Andras into this world with the help of a dark magic book to scare Allie’s mother. But Andras does more than that. And from that moment onwards, Brenda has been an underling to Andras. Brenda used the house as a bed-and-breakfast joint in the hope the renters would utter the Latin phrase and allow Andras to get their bodies.
How Did Andras Get Defeated?
As the full moon rises in the night sky, Brenda starts her work. She ignites the circle she drew around the house and starts a ritual. This ritual is supposed to unleash Andras to the whole world. However, before Andras could cross the circle, Rohan calls him to enter his body. The lure of a younger body provokes Andras to leave Frank. But, Josh also declares himself open to Andras. As do Cliff, Liddy, Sara, and Sharon. The confused Andras got split into too many portions and resumes his own form. At this vulnerable stage, Frank stomps Andras and kills him.
What Happens to Rohan and Josh? And Brenda?
After defeating Andras, Frank becomes more open to expressing his feelings. He assures Rohan that he has always been loved. His sexuality has never deterred Frank and Sharon’s love. Both Frank and Sharon can see Josh’s value now. As the parents accept each other, Josh pops the question to Rohan. The two embrace and kiss. The ring Rohan threw outside in frustration is procured by Josh, and now it finds its rightful owner.
Even Brenda cannot help but join in Rohan and Josh’s happiness, to hilarious effects. Liddy and Cliff tell Brenda that she should be jailed for doing this demon-calling thing. Funnily enough, Brenda asks them to give a review for her hosting efforts. In a mid-credit scene, we see Rohan and Josh traveling back together, still wondering about the events of the night. Rohan admits to seeing his father’s naked body is perhaps the most nightmarish experience from that night.
The Parenting (2025) Movie Review:
The Parenting” (2025) is written by Kent Sublette, who is one of the writers of “Saturday Night Live.” It is, therefore, quite natural that the film would feel like an extended skit. One could assume that the film would appear quite kitschy from its logline. A “Meet the Parents” like drama in a haunted house? An intriguing premise, indeed. The Craig Johnson film never promises to be more than a fun adventure. Yet, despite all its absurdness, the film somehow still leaves you feeling wanting.
“The Parenting” did not have novelty on its side. Dysfunctional family quabbles or a rotten hand appearing from under the table – these overused tropes never fought the case for the film. It was the campy craziness that should have been the sole focus of the film. The film does have some moments like that. A thoroughly unhinged Brian Cox projectile vomiting noodles that Lisa Kudrow haphazardly arranged is the kind of wildness that bats for the film. We could only wish the film had more of those.
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