‘Companion’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.
Opening in theaters on January 31st is ‘Companion,’ directed by Drew Hancock and starring Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, and Rupert Friend.
Initial Thoughts
The feature debut of writer and director Drew Hancock, ‘Companion’ is a sci-fi satire with a seasoning of horror and a sharp edge of social criticism. Set in a near future that’s not too far removed from our own present day, the story touches on dysfunctional relationships, the nature of consciousness, issues of control, toxic masculinity, and modern-day alienation, all wrapped up in one tightly-written 100-minute package.
Our advice? Skip the latest trailer for the movie, which gives away one major plot twist that, even though it occurs relatively early in the movie, abruptly and wholeheartedly changes the fabric and genre of the film. We’ll try to write around it here, although it may be difficult and you might find some arguable spoilers ahead. But even if you know or guess that reveal, there are still others in the film that keep it suspenseful, invigorating, often funny, and sometimes horrifying. Either way, ‘Companion’ is a clever genre mash-up that keeps solid control of its tone and thematic undercurrents almost all the way to the end.
Story and Direction
“There have been two moments in my life when I was happiest. The first was the day I met Josh.” So says Iris (Sophie Thatcher) as ‘Companion’ opens on their meet-cute in a supermarket. Iris is poised, beautiful, a bit timeless; Josh (Jack Quaid) is awkward, yet seemingly warm and funny. Iris also describes the second happiest moment in her life – but we’ll leave that out for now.
Cut to the now happy, loving pair cruising in their self-driving car to an isolated lake house, where they join two other couples: the sarcastic Eli (Harvey Guillén) and gentle Patrick (Lukas Gage), and the more caustic Kat (Megan Suri) and Sergey (Rupert Friend), the latter a rather shady, solicitous Russian who happens to own the house – and treats Kat as just another possession, according to her. Iris, meanwhile, is positive that Kat hates her and even asks her why during a moment alone. “Because you make me feel replaceable,” Kat says, her words more pregnant with meaning than they might seem at first.
After their first night of partying and drinking, the next morning sees one houseguest subjected to an unwanted, overly aggressive advance – which then leads to bloodshed. And that in turn leads to the first big twist of ‘Companion,’ which – as we noted earlier – has already been telegraphed in the film’s trailer and marketing. It establishes a plot conceit that isn’t exactly original – it’s been used in plenty of films and TV shows before – but develops it in a way that slyly says something about relationships and gender dynamics today that is both hilarious and depressingly true.
That first major reveal, however, is not the whole of the story. From that point, ‘Companion’ turns into a combination of crime, farce, and sci-fi thriller as more twists are revealed, including the reason why everyone has assembled at Sergey’s peaceful house in the first place and what some members of the group have been hiding from others. That leads to complication upon complication, as the situation grows even more bizarre and each potential solution to the problem leads to more disastrous consequences. By the time we get to the end – kind of a funnier take on the close of an Alex Garland film – no one and nothing is left undamaged.
‘Companion’ perhaps labors a bit toward that ending, and there are certain plot and motivational holes that come to the surface the more you think about them, but that’s a minor distraction at best. Another minor quibble is that, while Hrishikesh Hirway’s original score – an eerie play on strings and female vocals that echoes ‘Rosemary’s Baby’ – and Hancock’s needle drops are on the money, the latter are deployed perhaps one or two times too often, leading to an aural predictability that feels a little manipulative. Nevertheless, the song cues for the most part evoke a dreamy mix of nostalgia and folk horror that provide a terrific counterpart to the vicious onscreen action.
And make no mistake, it’s vicious, all right, as is the futuristic critique of certain social and gender dynamics that are increasingly present in the real world. “The world is rigged against people like me,” rages one character toward the end, and while they may be right in some ways, their anger and frustration are taken out in the entirely wrong direction. ‘Companion’ has a whole lot going on under the surface about relationships, love, self-identity, and self-worth, and how all those things can be poisoned and perverted by the technological tools made available to us.
The Cast
Sophie Thatcher delivered a striking performance late last year in ‘Heretic,’ and she’s impressed us as well in ‘Yellowjackets’ and others. As Iris, she initially evokes a kind of timeless, throwback beauty and a beguiling sense of a woman fully open to the idea of love and pleasing someone else – until those ideas are all upended by what happens to her. Iris goes on a voyage of self-discovery that’s not always in her control, and Thatcher handles the character’s evolution with subtlety and a growing sense of outrage that portends more for both her and the world of the film. It’s terrific work from this rising young actor.
Jack Quaid is already a genre favorite thanks to his lead roles on ‘The Boys’ and ‘Star Trek: Lower Decks,’ making his mark in both with characters that start out on the back foot and eventually find their way toward something resembling confidence in themselves. His character here, Josh, is revealed here in layers, each one peeling off to expose an increasingly complicated man whose view of the world is ultimately transactional and dark. Drew Hancock’s excellent script gives him and Thatcher a lot to work with, and even the supporting players – especially Harvey Guillén (‘What We Do in the Shadows’), Lukas Gage (‘Smile 2’), and Megan Suri (‘It Lives Inside’) — get their moments to shine.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully we’ve managed to get through this review without spoiling ‘Companion’ for you, for while it does touch on issues and concepts that aren’t new, it remixes them in a way that is best experienced without knowing much going in. And it lands its themes without hitting the viewer over the head with them, subtly leaving certain questions unanswered while still taking the viewer on a twisty, entertaining, morbidly funny ride.
‘Companion,’ while tackling different ideas, might pair well with ‘It’s What’s Inside,’ the overlooked sci-fi thriller from last year that also threw six friends into a situation where modern technology and social behavior toss all of them into complete emotional and psychological turmoil. There are notions about sex, control, and maturity that crop up in both, and while the latter film was a bit over-stylized in some ways, ‘Companion’ has an uncluttered directorial and writing style that bodes well for Drew Hancock’s future in feature films. ‘Companion’ has a lot on its mind, but skillfully presents Hancock’s argument in a lively genre mash-up that’s thoroughly satisfying.
CgiPlY8CxhdhIYTg1fIPs2What is the plot of ‘Companion’?
Josh (Jack Quaid) and Iris (Sophie Thatcher) join four other friends at a remote lakeside cabin for a weekend of fun and relaxation. But things quickly take a bad turn, leading to shocking revelations about who Josh and Iris really are and what their relationship is based on.
Who is in the cast of ‘Companion’?
- Sophie Thatcher as Iris
- Jack Quaid as Josh
- Lukas Gage as Patrick
- Megan Suri as Kat
- Harvey Guillén as Eli
- Rupert Friend as Sergey
Sophie Thatcher Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘Prospect‘ (2018)
- ‘The Tomorrow Man‘ (2019)
- ‘When the Streetlights Go On‘ (2020)
- ‘Yellowjackets‘ (2021 – 2023)
- ‘The Book of Boba Fett‘ (2021 – 2022)
- ‘Blink‘ (2024)
- ‘The Boogeyman‘ (2023)
- ‘MaXXXine‘ (2024)
- ‘Heretic‘ (2024)
Buy Tickets: ‘Companion’ Movie Showtimes
Buy Sophie Thatcher Movies on Amazon
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