On paper, The Parenting sounds like a bad idea: a horror-comedy about a dysfunctional family gathering for a weekend retreat—only to discover their Airbnb is possessed by a demon with control issues. But thanks to razor-sharp writing, impeccable comedic timing, and a surprisingly heartfelt core, this 2025 Amazon Prime original turns out to be one of the year’s weirdest and most rewatchable genre mashups.
The Setup: Hell Is Other People (and Their Parents)
Directed by What We Do in the Shadows alum Maxine Stroud, the film centers on Jamie (Ben Platt), a 30-something gay man reluctantly bringing his new boyfriend Will (Noah Galvin) to meet his overbearing Jewish parents at a remote Hudson Valley home. They’re joined by Will’s WASP-y Southern family—including an emotionally detached stepfather and a Gen Z witchcraft-obsessed stepsister.
“The demon isn’t the problem. The real possession is generational trauma.”
— Will, 47 minutes in
The plot kicks off when a botched séance—originally meant as a group bonding exercise—accidentally summons Zalzurak, a demon who refuses to leave until everyone in the house confesses one family secret.
Comedy Meets Horror: Surprisingly Balanced
The Parenting balances its horror with punchy comedy. There’s demonic possession, yes—but also debates over pronouns, vegan charcuterie boards, and Bluetooth speaker pairings.
[Scene Highlight Box]
Opening Scene: A montage of passive-aggressive text messages between family members.
Séance Gone Wrong: Grandma is possessed, but instead of speaking Latin, she critiques everyone’s life choices.
Demon Wi-Fi Password: To escape the house, someone must guess Zalzurak’s password. (Spoiler: it’s “dadissues666”)
Cast & Characters: Committed to the Chaos
Ben Platt (Jamie): Neurotic but lovable; sings a demon lullaby in Act III.
Noah Galvin (Will): The peacekeeper with a secret past in exorcism camp.
Debra Messing: Jamie’s mom, who thinks therapy is a scam—until she’s face-to-face with a horned entity.
Delroy Lindo: Will’s stepdad; delivers the film’s most deadpan one-liners.
Jane Levy: Stepsister Tori, who accidentally invites the demon using a spell she found on Pinterest.
In Color: The demon realm sequences glow with neon purples and sickly greens, contrasting with the warm beige tones of the house. It’s horror by way of a Wes Anderson family drama gone to hell.
Underneath the Chaos: Real Emotion
Despite its absurdity, The Parenting is deeply human. Each confession demanded by Zalzurak uncovers long-buried guilt, shame, and unspoken love. It becomes clear: the demon isn’t punishing them—it’s freeing them.
“Say it out loud. That’s all you ever needed to do.”
— Zalzurak (voiced by Billy Eichner)
Demon Design & Sound
Zalzurak isn’t a traditional horror monster. He’s half-goat, half-shadow, fully sarcastic. Voiced with flamboyant menace by Billy Eichner, he floats between camp and true menace.
Sound design includes:
Gregorian chants remixed with club beats.
Door creaks tuned to minor chords.
Alexa misinterpreting every demonic order as a shopping request.
Ending Explained: Exorcising the Ego
The climax is emotional chaos: a group family therapy session conducted in Latin. Jamie and Will are the final holdouts, and once they open up, the demon loses power.
But in a twist, Zalzurak isn’t banished—he chooses to stay, now as the family’s live-in therapist. A closing voiceover suggests this isn’t horror’s end—it’s the start of healing.
Reception: Cult Classic in the Making?
“Think Knives Out meets Evil Dead 2—with brunch.”
— IndieWire
“The funniest horror since Shaun of the Dead. And somehow, the most emotional.”
— Vulture
Fans are calling it a new queer horror comedy classic, especially for its normalization of LGBTQ+ themes in genre storytelling without leaning on trauma tropes.
Should You Stream It?
✅ Yes, if:
You love horror-comedies like Ready or Not or Happy Death Day.
You appreciate ensemble casts and witty writing.
You want family dysfunction and demon portals.
⛔ No, if:
You prefer your horror serious and gore-heavy.
You dislike meta-comedy.
You’re not ready to unpack your own daddy issues.
Final Words
The Parenting succeeds not because it’s scary, but because it’s smart, self-aware, and sneakily sincere. It proves horror doesn’t need to be humorless—and families don’t need to be perfect to heal.
Whether you came for the demons or the drama, you’ll stay for the Wi-Fi password.
Now Streaming:
Amazon Prime Video (Exclusive)
