I thought I had Companion pegged, another timely take on the AI uprising that has taken the world by storm in a Black Mirror–inspired coat of paint. In reality, Companion is a movie that, during its 97-minute runtime, continued to subvert my expectations, ultimately making it one of the best theatre experiences I’ve had in recent memory.
Writer and director Drew Hancock (My Dead Ex) delivers on the promise of a wholly unique take on a love story that explores the intricate nature of intimacy, relationship dynamics and love in a way that doesn’t feel like it’s in your face but rather, a strong background element that helps prop up the otherwise over the top and often visceral scenes of violence. Jack Quaid (The Boys), who plays the main male lead, Josh, seems to be drawn to these subversive and brutal roles. This comes through in Companion, as the slow burn of the film’s opening hours quickly gives way to a forest fire that doesn’t stop till the credits roll.
“Companion is a movie that, during its 97-minute runtime, continued to subvert my expectations, ultimately making it one of the best theatre experiences I’ve had in recent memory.”
Without delving too far into spoilers, Companion opens with a brief look at Josh and Iris, played by Sophie Thatcher (Heretic 2024). They are a couple burgeoning on serious long-term commitment territory, and we see how they first met, emphasizing their love-at-first-sight romance before quickly moving on to the present day. There, they are seen attending their friends’ party, which, of course, is secluded far from civilization in the woods.
From here, audiences get some time to see the relationship dynamics between Josh and Iris while introducing the rest of the extended cast. The cast features an eclectic bunch of exaggerated stereotypes, which, instead of detracting, add to the campy nature of Companion, which helps keep things from being overtly dark or sterile feeling.
As these things go in classic horror/psychological thriller fashion, things quickly go awry in Companion, which snowballs into pure chaos. This leads to several instances throughout the movie’s runtime in which Hancock seemingly tends to lead and funnel audience expectations one way before flipping the script. These flips mostly work, outside of perhaps the last 40 minutes or so of the movie, which feels a bit more routine, at least in contrast to some of the earlier scenes, but fitting overall, particularly from the team behind 2022’s Barbarian.
“The cast features an eclectic bunch of exaggerated stereotypes, which, instead of detracting, add to the campy nature of Companion, which helps keep things from being overtly dark or sterile feeling.”
Companion works as well as it does due to it never overstating or dragging on scenes longer than intended. Every plot point and element during Companion’s 98-minute runtime is void of dead air or unnecessary filler, making for a brisk and entertaining thriller that will keep you engaged. Standout performances, of course, include leads Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid, who play plausible yet exaggerated takes on an overtly docile girlfriend and increasingly shitbag boyfriend. The couple, despite watching the world around them come crashing down, stay resolute in established natures.
Outside of the strong performances of the leads, Lukas Gage (Euphoria) easily steals the show with his portrayal of Patrick, a loveable himbo. He is also an accessory to Eli, a friend of Josh and company as portrayed by Harvey Guillén (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish), who does an excellent job of creating a fun foil between himself and his bumbling partner.
If you’re someone who likes dissecting movies or trying to predict plot threads, Companion is a must-watch, as it will keep audiences guessing for the majority of its runtime. Additionally, one thing the film nails is its approach to character relationships and dynamics, which, although exaggerated, does a good job of shedding light on the modern dynamics of relationships, particularly some of their more toxic qualities.
I imagine the logline for Companion was relatively concise, but its simplicity has paid off in that the movie fully explores its contemporary take on a tech-fulled thriller and romance. Despite the movie releasing at the tail end of January, I believe Companion will end up being one of the best films released in 2025, making it a must-watch for those who can stomach some intense violence and unsavoury subject matter.
