Edie Falco Tackles the Absurd in ‘The Parenting’: A Horrifically Hilarious Departure from Her Usual Roles

Tucked away in the picturesque landscapes of Massachusetts, a charming yet eerie abode played host to several distinguished figures from Hollywood, such as Edie Falco and Brian Cox—both taking roles quite different from what we usually see them play—to shoot the horror-comedy “The Parenting,” which is currently available on Max. In this movie, these two actors portray spouses who are asked by their homosexual son to spend a weekend at a leased home where he plans to introduce them to his partner’s family. However, they quickly discover that the residence has unexpected inhabitants: an old demonic entity seeking a corporeal body to inhabit…and unfortunately for Cox, he becomes the target of this malevolent spirit.

This represents quite a departure from Logan Roy, the part that the classically trained Cox portrayed with such brilliance on HBO’s “Succession.” In “The Parenting,” he has the opportunity to embrace outright silliness—albeit in an irreverent and playful manner. For instance, in one scene, his possessed character walks into a room nude and demands that everyone observe him exclaiming, “Look at this!” while gesturing towards his private parts. Additionally, fans of Falco can enjoy her contribution to the lighter side of comedy; she even performs the “robot” dance to help ease the atmosphere.

These are genuinely hilarious folks, even when they’re not in front of the cameras,” Falco remarks about the ensemble, featuring Lisa Kudrow, Parker Posey, Nik Dodani, Brandon Flynn, and Dean Norris. “Our experience together has been incredibly fun. Often, as the night grows later and our workdays stretch longer, everyone starts feeling more lighthearted until uncontrollable laughter takes over. Once this happens, stopping becomes nearly impossible. This occurred several times due to how absurdly silly things got; everybody was fully engaged in the comedy.

Sharon, played by Falco, is a former psychologist (and also did some modeling back in the ’80s) who finds it impossible to stop analyzing every person she encounters. According to Falco, Sharon simply can’t control this tendency. She expresses excitement about having the opportunity to work on such an entertaining project. “Each time I went through the script, I thought, ‘Well, looks like I’m taking this on!’ I felt really pleased since roles like this aren’t typically what I am asked to play. Actors always wish for moments where those responsible for casting approach projects with creativity. This role definitely didn’t fit into my usual typecasting.”

“What You’d Call ‘The Parenting'” falls into the horror-comedy genre, yet it also delves deeply into relational dynamics through well-developed character arcs for each couple involved. As Falco points out, “Much depends on how it’s written.” The narrative could’ve concluded similarly regarding their interpersonal connections; however, navigating the chaotic circumstances presented them an opportunity to grow individually. Even amid such absurdity, one tends to uncover true selves when pushed beyond ordinary limits.

For instance, there’s an outrageous moment where Cox’s character takes hold of Falco. During this sequence, Falco gets to try out something entirely new for nearly four decades—a harness and a lift. She did not use a stunt double; it was all her own work. “I also had the opportunity to participate in those exciting moments. I thought, wow! As I was performing them, I realized, wait a minute, people might find this somewhat unbelievable since we can see behind the scenes. However, once everything comes together, each project involves skilled professionals at every stage. It truly left me impressed.”

Falco enjoyed the experience immensely, and the viewers should feel the same way. She mentions, “It’s absurd and could genuinely make you leap from your chair at times.” She adds, “Many parts even caught me off guard with their impact. The entire process was incredibly enjoyable for us all, and we sincerely wish this enthusiasm comes through to the audience.”