When it comes to films designed to startle and shock the audience with its various twists and turns, one has to consider the audience these critiques are for. Companion featured a cryptic ad campaign up to a point, not unlike the 2022 horror film Barbarian, which shares the same producers. Does it make sense to offer a token amount of plot for all potential readers when the joy for some seeing this movie after the fact comes from the various reveals found in this movie? There’s clearly an intent to pull the rug out from an audience with what works as both a horror film and a comedy. Surely, I should work to provide thoughts without having to consider certain elements, such as the reaction of others to the same movie or how it’s being marketed. As it stands, Companion is a well-made and very entertaining horror film, with bursts of blood and laughter throughout its relatively short running time. It has other things on its mind as well, but that’s getting ahead of myself. For now, just know it’s a bad romance in cinematic form.
Mild first act-related spoilers ahead, but some key details to understand: Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and Josh (Jack Quaid) join a group of friends for a weekend away at a remote cabin. Things take a turn when one of these guests rejects normal society’s programming, leading to chaos. Is there a reason behind this? What do certain violent actions say about the others who aren’t willing to contact the proper authorities? And to what extent does this have to do with holding onto a healthy relationship?
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There are answers to all these questions and more, and understand that even those who have an idea of what’s going on with one of these characters have only unlocked one portion of information. Companion features plenty more story to unfold. Even with that in mind, there’s a particular joy to already be able to pick up on, considering dialogue that has double meanings, how other characters behave, and the rate at which other story elements lock into place.
I can’t speak to whether writer/director Drew Hancock pitched this film by explaining the nature of these characters, serving as an early hook, or if it was always meant to be discovered early in the story. However, beyond the obvious notion that a quality film should be able to support itself beyond just its twists, it’s all about coming to an understanding of what this means for all the characters involved. Plus, the atmosphere set up from the start should make it clear that nothing is what it seems. There may be alarming information we come to learn about at least one person, but Companion is clever in the way our perceptions concerning the rest of the cast can turn as well.
Fresh off Heretic, Thatcher is great here. It’s bittersweet to have the late David Lynch on the mind lately, but it’s hard not to think about Blue Velvet’s influence on a film like this, starting with Thatcher’s Iris. Something awaits underneath the surface, but we’re not quite sure what it is at first. In the meantime, we follow a character whose nervous yet chipper attitude and primary color outfits speak to a different era despite clear awareness of this film’s time period. Sure, Sophie’s actions aren’t as abstract as what we see in the Lynch neo-noir, but the intensity of the violence Iris becomes involved in, along with other secrets coming to light, make it clear all is not well.
Quaid, who has a few films arriving this year and has been building up a solid resume of genre credits, also fits quite well in this film. There’s a sneakiness to the way he conveys innocence that may or may not underscore his intentions. Whatever the case, he knows how to play a likable guy who gets along with everyone, as well as someone easily exasperated by things going beyond his control. It amounts to one of the things this movie constantly gets right – the hilarious reaction shots to the extreme circumstances presented.
More importantly, however, Quaid embodies what Hancock seems to be after as a filmmaker. Working to earn its place as being from the creators of Barbarian, in addition to playing with and subverting audience expectations, the grander themes of Companion speak to toxic relationships, aggression, forced subservience, and independence. These ideas are hammered into the story in various twisted ways. Still, its strengths lie in building a script that works off this from the start instead of being looked back upon after the fact and being praised for what came through in the writing subconsciously.
An issue could stem from a movie like this feeling too fettered from the real world, but that’s where the extreme choices come in, along with the other fun performances. The brutal and dialogue-heavy film supplies Companion with over-the-top horror gags and enough hilarity to make the movie stand out based on its stylistic choices. Helping these matters is a highly amusing Harvey Guillén, Lukas Gage, and Megan Suri, the other friends who all find themselves in over their heads once things kick into gear.
Whether or not it has been frustratingly vague to hear references to some horror danger that lurks within this film, know Companion takes a lot of chances and knows how to have fun with itself. It’s supported by excellent work from its cast, notably Thatcher and Quaid, and doesn’t overstay its welcome. If anything, beyond my hesitance to reveal anything here, the movie is actually very straightforward in what it’s doing (almost to its detriment when considering some opening narration). Still, because of the gradual shifts in the jokes or the gore, it remains compelling throughout. Adding on social commentary and twists that don’t overwhelm the story just means Hancock, producer Zach Cregger, and others have a fun handle on their entries into the horror genre. Even if it’s tricky to determine how much is fair to divulge, there are still more significant problems out there than how to describe the fun audiences are going to have with Companion.
Companion opens in theaters and IMAX on January 31, 2025.
