(director: Craig Johnson; screenwriter: Kent Sublette; cinematographer: Hillary Spera; editor: Josh Crockett; music: Nathan Larson; cast: Parker Posey (Brenda), Lisa Kudrow (Liddy), Edie Falco (Sharon), Brian Cox (Frank), Nik Dodani (Rohan), Dean Norris (Cliff), Vivian Bang (Sara), Brandon Flynn (Josh); Runtime: 100; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Jake Weiner, Chris Bender; Max; 2025)

“Not my cup of schlock.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Craig Johnson (“The Skeleton Twins”/”Wilson”) directs this goofy and clunky comedy/horror film that’s more comical than scary. It’s written by Kent Sublette as if it only had one big joke in it before it died from laughter. The plot has one of the subjects become possessed by a demonic entity, which is always cause for silly moments in these type of mediocre devil possession films.

Rohan (Nik Dodani) and Josh (Brandon Flynn) are a nice young gay couple. Anxiety sets in when they prepare to meet each other’s families for the first time, as they discuss with each other how to make good impressions on them.

On the day of the visit, the families awkwardly meet in a haunted countryside mansion the boys rent for a week-end. Rohan fears his uptight and judgmental strait-laced adoptive parents, Frank (Brian Cox) and Sharon (Edie Falco), will over-react negatively. While the aspiring unemployed musician Josh thinks his more free-spirited folks, Liddy (Lisa Kudrow) and Cliff (Dean Norris), will be more accepting of the union.

Also around the house is the wacko mansion owner Brenda (Parker Posey), adding her eccentricities to the story for some genre flavoring, as she drops off a welcome basket with a creepy doll. Then there’s the unexpected arrival of the self-centered Sara (Vivian Bang), a friend of both boys, who is around to make things even more awkward.

At night there are creaking sounds in the house, as an evil spirit possesses Frank. The others know this when they observe his voice change, as he becomes out of character insulting everyone and starts levitating.

None of these odd reactions are either funny or scary as much as they’re confusing.

Since I thought the jokes for the most part sucked, I found the film to be not my cup of schlock.

REVIEWED ON 3/21/2025  GRADE: C+
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