Friday, February 7, 2025

“COMPANION”

THE STORY – A weekend getaway turns bloody and violent when a subservient android that’s built for human companionship goes haywire.

THE CAST – Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén & Rupert Friend

THE TEAM – Drew Hancock (Director/Writer)

THE RUNNING TIME – 97 Minutes


Iris (Sophie Thatcher) is devoted to her boyfriend Josh (Jack Quaid) and has been almost ever since their meet-cute at a supermarket some time ago. Iris says, in voiceover, that this moment is one of two moments in her life in which she experienced the absolute clarity that comes from true happiness. The other? Why, the day she killed Josh, of course. Drew Hancock’s “Companion” tells the story of what led her to that second moment while at a getaway with Josh’s friends Eli (Harvey Guillén) and Kat (Megan Suri) and their respective boyfriends Patrick (Lukas Gage) and Sergey (Rupert Friend). Iris can’t help but feel that the acerbic Kat doesn’t like her, although she’s clearly slightly judgy herself when Kat tells her that Sergey – whose remote, upscale house they’re all staying in – is married to someone else and that she doesn’t care. Love seems to rule all in Iris’s mind; she sees it as the end-all and be-all for everyone, but especially for her, and can’t seem to understand how anyone could be in any kind of relationship with someone that they don’t love. So, when Sergey forces himself on Iris when they’re alone, something snaps, and everyone’s plans for the weekend get turned upside-down.

Hancock’s devilishly clever execution of his killer concept for “Companion” can’t be understated. Once the film’s big reveal happens at the end of the first act, the writer/director treats the rest of the film like a sandbox to play in, teasing out every nuance and thought problem in the most entertaining way possible. That reveal is hiding perfectly in plain sight, so it’s not exactly a twist, but the film is much more fun and unexpected if you don’t know about it going in, so this review will keep the mystery (and fun) intact, unlike the film’s full trailer. Suffice it to say that there’s an odd tone to the film’s opening act that is not only explained by the reveal but made more comedic. It also opens up the film’s themes to expand from its seemingly simplistic take on modern relationships to a knottier exploration of consent, power dynamics, and our reliance on technology. That “Companion” is still a fun roller coaster ride of a film with all those serious topics on its mind proves Hancock’s skill as a creative storyteller.

The cast must get their fair share of the praise, too, because the performances are a large part of why the film works as effectively as it does. Friend adopts an appropriately sleazy Russian accent to match his ridiculous fake tan and mustache, and Suri is a spiky surprise as the acerbic Kat. Quaid gives his best performance to date as Josh, perfectly loving, entitled, and squirmy as events spiral ever farther out of his control, all while his manipulative edge stays visible just beneath the surface. Guillén and Gage steal the show, though, as the consistently hilarious comic relief. Hancock’s screenplay is so well-drawn that you develop a real emotional connection to Eli and Patrick, as well, and their note-perfect line deliveries are both hilarious and revealing of character, making them feel like so much more than just the token gay guys. When they’re not onscreen, you miss them. Thankfully, Thatcher is almost always onscreen, giving a fully committed performance of a complex character. Something is ever-so-slightly off about Iris right from the start, but Thatcher plays her emotions so genuinely that you feel for her anyway, which is key to unlocking the film’s second half. All gets explained, and what Iris does with that information feels true to the character, thanks to Thatcher’s layered work. Crucially, as Iris’s knowledge grows, Thatcher walks a tightrope between letting the audience into her thoughts and keeping them hidden. Hancock’s screenplay ensures that she’s never too far ahead of the audience, but Thatcher makes sure the most surprising moments land with as much force as possible because of how and when she lets the audience in. After “Heretic,” this is her second performance in a row as an intelligent, capable woman in a thriller who must match wits with a man who seemingly holds all the cards, and if Hollywood is going to keep typecasting her in this way, then hopefully the films she gets are just as smart (and the roles just as different) as these two.

Hancock’s sure hand with the cast extends to every part of the production, an impressive feat for a first-time feature filmmaker. The tone of “Companion” is completely unique, alternating between thought-provoking tension and laugh-out-loud hilarity. Despite how funny the film is, it never goes for the easy joke, earning half of its laughs through sheer cleverness. That cleverness is the film’s defining trait, much more than any actual twistiness: The story isn’t so much full of twists as it is full of well-drawn characters who do incredibly clever (or incredibly stupid) things. “Companion” isn’t the kind of film where you leave thinking, “What the hell just happened?” – it’s the kind of film that takes you on a straightforward but wild ride, leaving you exiting the theater thinking, “Hell yes.” It gives you everything you could possibly want from a major-studio B-movie – impeccable design, perfect pacing, a thrilling plot that keeps you in suspense, plenty of laughter, and a splash of romance – in an easy-to-sit-through 97-minute package. It’s effortlessly entertaining, marking Drew Hancock as a writer and director to watch.

THE RECAP

THE GOOD - A twisty, super entertaining trip through a clever premise featuring an incredible performance from Sophie Thatcher and a hilarious ensemble.

THE BAD - Your mileage may vary regarding how well the film's medium meets its message.

THE OSCAR PROSPECTS - None

THE FINAL SCORE - 7/10

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Dan Bayer
Dan Bayer
Performer since birth, tap dancer since the age of 10. Life-long book, film and theatre lover.

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<b>THE GOOD - </b>A twisty, super entertaining trip through a clever premise featuring an incredible performance from Sophie Thatcher and a hilarious ensemble.<br><br> <b>THE BAD - </b>Your mileage may vary regarding how well the film's medium meets its message.<br><br> <b>THE OSCAR PROSPECTS - </b>None<br><br> <b>THE FINAL SCORE - </b>7/10<br><br>"COMPANION"