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I feel compelled to begin this review with an urgent warning about the trailers and some official synopses forCompanion. I understand that, nowadays, it’s almost impossible to walk into a theater knowing absolutely nothing about the film in question. Whether through social media or the studio’s own marketing department, keeping the key elements of a new release completely secret is extremely rare. Unfortunately, Drew Hancock’s feature-length directorial and screenwriting debut is negatively impacted by a shameful, seriously damaging advertising campaign that may hinder the movie’s overall success.
The creative narrative concept that definesCompanionis ridiculously presented and explained in every trailer released so far, stripping away a massive surprise factor from a film that, when seen for the first time on the big screen with no prior knowledge, promises a shocking and genuinely bewildering experience. This completely transforms expectations regarding the direction the story will take, as well as the depth of its central themes. For the purposes of this article, the premise to consider is simply this: the death of a billionaire triggers a series of shocking events for Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and her friends during a weekend getaway at a lakeside house.
CompanionReview
Personally, I was lucky enough to avoid any information aboutCompanionbeyond the fact that the cast was led by Thatcher (Yellowjackets) and Jack Quaid (Scream), so I felt the full impact of Hancock’s powerful revelations. With a script full of surreal twists, the first act stands out as the most well-structured, offering an intentionally strange mix of comedy, romance, and mystery. The unsettling atmosphere and the constant feeling that something is off are ever-present, while themes of abusive relationships, love as an addiction, and a lack of personal control are developed in an evident, compelling manner.
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Then comes the moment whenCompanionis turned upside down by a twist that I sincerely hope most audiences don’t already see coming due to those spoiler-heavy trailers. In fact, one of the reasons this terrible marketing decision frustrates me so much is precisely because it’s quite clear that Hancock builds his first half-hour to culminate in a theoretically unpredictable, “outside-the-box” narrative shift. The movie isn’t ruined for viewers who enter the theater already knowing what to expect, but the experience will never be the same.
The core formula behind this drastic shift in how we perceive the characters and the world they inhabit isn’t exactly groundbreaking – in fact, if I were to describeCompanion‘s real premise, it would be easy to name dozens of recent films that have used a similar concept. However, Hancock’s technical and narrative execution, along with some unique details the filmmaker incorporates into his project, transform a generic idea into something truly special, making this an unexpectedly strong start to the year – January is rarely a memorable month for cinema.
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Hrishikesh Hirway’s (Save the Date) score and respective musical choices, in general, contribute to its more comedic and fun layer, featuring upbeat party tracks that add energy to the film. There are even moments throughout the movie that elicit genuine laughs. Nevertheless, the underlying dark tone never disappears, largely due to Eli Born’s (The Boogeyman) discomforting close-ups.Companioncreates a consistent feeling of contradiction between what we’re watching and the atmosphere surrounding it – an intelligent parallel to the protagonist’s own emotional turmoil.
Iris is a woman hopelessly in love with Josh (Quaid), a man who doesn’t quite seem to reciprocate the same level of affection and love that a supposed soulmate should. Small moments of indifference and even disrespect raise doubts about their relationship, but a lot of certainty regarding Iris’ dangerously toxic dependence on Josh. As she herself says in a private conversation duringCompanion, it’s as if something inside her wants to break free and explode, but there’s always another part of her that pushes those stronger emotions down, staying silent, still, smiling, and complacent with everything Josh asks her to be or do. As long as Josh is happy, Iris is “happy”.
From the second act onward,Companionintroduces other meaningful themes that even take control of the narrative, but due to their inherent connection to spoilers, I’ll leave them for another discussion. The final hour presents many challenges for Iris, but there’s a noticeable repetition of chase sequences and general action set pieces somewhat forced for the sake of entertainment. While these scenes maintain high energy levels until the end, they also feel a bit excessive, possibly stretched out to meet studio runtime requirements.
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Normally, movies save the tricks up their sleeves for the final act, butCompaniontakes the bold risk of putting all its cards on the table before even reaching the halfway point. On one hand, this helps capture the audience’s attention early and keeps them fully engaged during the film’s most significant moments. On the other hand, it sacrifices the feeling of ending on the story’s most climactic beat, making the entertainment curve feel somewhat downward-sloping after a certain point.
A final note on Thatcher’s magnificent performance. The rest of the cast also deserves praise, particularly Quaid as the primary counterpart, butCompanionis Thatcher’s showcase. With every new role, she proves to be one of the most promising young actresses of her generation. Thatcher holds a tremendous emotional range, an incredibly versatile expressive ability, and even perfect comedic timing. Her talent is remarkable, and managing to elevate such a dynamic, complex character like Iris is no small feat. Through her portrayal, the actress turns delicate topics like self-control, empowerment, and humanity into deeply relatable issues, crafting an inspiring character arc. Absolutely fantastic!
IsCompanionworth watching?
Companionmay not reinvent the wheel within its genre, but the way Drew Hancock takes a familiar concept and infuses it with a personal touch and technically impressive execution results in an incredibly captivating viewing – especially for those who manage to avoid the criminally revealing trailers. The blend of tones, the unsettling atmosphere, and the exploration of complex themes like abuse, love, and control elevate this horror flick beyond cheap jump scares, leaving a lasting emotional and narrative impact that lingers well past the credits. With a powerhouse performance from Sophie Thatcher anchoring it all, this psychological thriller – sprinkled with comedy, romance, and even sci-fi elements – stands out as one of the year’s first big surprises. I highly recommend watching it in theaters, as blind as possible.
Companionreleases in theaters on January 31.
Companion Review — A Masterful Sophie Thatcher Performance in a Film Best Watched Blind
Manuel São Bento
Articles Published :70
Portuguese critic with a tremendous passion for cinema, television, and the art of filmmaking. An unbiased perspective from someone who has stopped watching trailers since 2017.✍️ Portfolio: https://linktr.ee/msbreviews🍅 Rotten Tomatoes approved🪪 OFCS, IFSC, OFTA
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