Companion – Film Review
Reviewed by Harris Dang on the 27th of January 2025
Universal presents a film by Drew Hancock
Written by Drew Hancock
Produced by Zach Cregger, Roy Lee, Raphael Margules, and J. D. Lifshitz
Starring Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, and Rupert Friend
Cinematography Eli Born
Edited by Brett W. Bachman and Josh Ethier
Music by Hrishikesh Hirway
Rating: MA15+
Running Time: 97 minutes
Release Date: the 30th of January 2025
Companion tells the story of an intrepid young couple, Iris and Josh (Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid), who are on their way to a weekend getaway in a remote cabin, with Josh’s friends Eli, Kat, and Patrick (Harvey Guillen, Megan Suri and Lukas Gage, respectively). The cabin is owned by billionaire Sergey (a hilariously pantomime Rupert Friend), who also happens to be Kat’s boyfriend.
As with most social gatherings, Iris is more than a little trepidacious [sic] when she absorbs all the hits of ignorance and bias from them while trying to make a good first impression. However, things grow complicated when their bias and ignorance over her upbringing culminates into something more sinister and in control.
Companion is the latest film from the makers of the horror film Barbarian (2022), as liberally shown in the marketing materials. With that in mind, the makers clearly want audiences to expect the unexpected when venturing into the film. It is fair that audiences will expect the same type of quality Barbarian delivered in terms of its positive critical reception. Does Companion deliver on that high level of promise?
Much like Barbarian (2022), Companion is best enjoyed with little prior knowledge beforehand. The synopsis accounts for the film’s setup, which introduces a reveal that takes the story into genre territory. While Companion lacks the narrative trickery and invention Barbarian (2022) achieved, it nevertheless succeeds in its eagerness in playing with genre tropes/storytelling conventions while providing an entertaining and stark look into the toxicity of relationships via control.
The views of control and always having the upper hand are shrewdly examined. Writer/director Drew Hancock provides contrast and similarities between men having power over romantic partners as well as having power over technology and infantilising and weaponising partners in the process. The examination also adds to the thrills and humour when the power is taken away from them. One hilarious example involves Iris taking over Josh’s phone, which removes his power and leads him to using rocks as means of technology like a caveman.
While most of the execution is well-done, the film makes a few mistakes in its screenplay as characters deliver their predicaments in ways that makes its subtext explicit. While it makes sense given the nature of the plot and the characters being patronising to others under the guise of moral support, the film could have used more subtlety to make its points more powerful, especially through visual storytelling in genre means.
Fortunately, the cast are all up for Hancock’s vision and deliver deceptively multifaceted performances. Jack Quaid is charismatic and down-to-earth and Hancock weaponises it to a degree that is extremely entertaining and quite startling. Lukas Gage takes his beaming smile and almost parodic handsome visage to new and surprising heights in the role of Patrick. Megan Suri is engagingly aloof and icy while Harvey Guillen is amusingly acerbic and shares a funny camaraderie with Gage.
The film’s biggest standout is Sophie Thatcher. Best known for her work in the TV show Yellowjackets, she has established herself as a scream queen thanks to films like The Boogeyman (2023) and Heretic (2024). In Companion, she ups her game in the role of Iris by playing a woman in extreme circumstances who tries to take back her humanity (in more ways than one) and autonomy (also in more ways than one). She handles all the complexities and character twists with dramatic and comedic aplomb.
Overall, Companion was a darkly funny, clever and shrewdly entertaining thriller about the concept of gaining control in relationships (both human and technological) that is sure to shock and amuse filmgoers. Recommended.
Summary: A darkly funny, clever and shrewdly entertaining thriller about the concept of gaining control in relationships (both human and technological) that is sure to shock and amuse filmgoers.
4
Great
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