Companion Takes Controlling Relationships To The Next Level In New Horror Classic
It’s not easy to find someone made just for you. That is unless you have a Companion. Sophie Thatcher plays Iris who is absolutely crazy in love with her boyfriend Josh (Jack Quaid). But when they go on a weekend getaway with his friends, their relationship takes a bloody turn.
Marketing of films like Abigail and Damsel revealed a little too much in the trailers and the same goes for Companion, which is why I think it’s best to go into the movie with as little information as possible to get the full experience. But even if you know the trailer twist, there’s still a lot more to come in this wildly dark thriller.
Thatcher is stellar as Iris. She brings a naivety and innocence to her role, which quickly turns into a fierce bid for survival. You can’t help but root for her and want to protect her at all costs. Meanwhile, Quaid is an expert at using his charm to play the nice guy with a sinister side. You might see it coming based on his past performances, but there’s a reason it works every time.
With them on their trip to the luxury remote cabin is Kat (Megan Suri), Josh’s friend who seems to hate Iris, her creepy married Russian boyfriend Sergey (Rupert Friend) who owns the house, and the sappily in love couple Eli (Harvey Guillén) and Patrick (Lukas Gage). Each of them have twisted layers revealed about them that will surprise viewers. Gage, in particular, is given a significant amount to work with and syncs effortlessly into his role.
There are surprises at every turn that writer and director Drew Hancock sets up perfectly with little details that foreshadow what’s to come. The kills are tension-filled and bloody, the humor is laugh out loud, and the sci-fi elements tap into a staggering humanity that sets it apart from horror films like M3GAN. If you know, you know. But through all the layers of comedy and horror and sci-fi, Companion is a story of misogyny, abusive relationships, and finding your own autonomy. The horrifying weekend allows Iris to wake up from the dream rom-com life she’s been living and realize she deserves better. Much better. Even if she has to kill for that freedom.
While January has typically been a release time where new films go to die, Companion is a breath of fresh air, solidifying itself as the first great film of 2025. The cast is impressive all around and the multi-genre story is solid from the very beginning. Equal parts thrilling, deranged, and empowering, this feminist opus has the makings of a new horror classic.
Companion hits theaters on January 31.
