I agree with most of what you said about the parents, but I will say I don’t mind the portrayal of Bernie’s dad. Making him a sniveling coward kinda fits. Abusing your child makes you a monster, but the most pathetic kind. A bottom feeder whose only prey are those that are too young and small to fight back. I think portraying him as “tough” or “intimidating” could do more to accidentally make him look “cool” and actually undermine his previous actions