Companion – Movie Review (3/5)

COMPANION (2025) is a new sci-fi thriller movie with a different kind of survival story. It gets extremely dark and brutal, which only works because it also utilizes comedy throughout. Read our full Companion movie review here!

COMPANION (2025) is a sci-fi thriller starring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid. I was hooked on this concept from watching the trailer, but of course, the cast had already lured me in before that. The trailer might seem quite spoiler-filled, but as you watch this movie, you realize it was more of a teaser.

This movie is essentially a survival story. Only this particular survival story has quite a few twists. As with most survival challenges, things get brutal as it escalates. It also turned much darker than I anticipated, but with dark comedy sprinkled throughout most of the runtime, it doesn’t go too far. The runtime is 1 hour and 37 minutes, which I felt suited the storyline perfectly.

Continue reading our Companion movie review below. Find it in theaters from January 31, 2025.

A different kind of love story

I have to circle back to the trailer real quick because I loved how it begins with the “From the studio that brought you The Notebook” opening only to then continue into “…and the creators of Barbarian” as this is sure to raddle many of us. It also helps set the stage that this isn’t what you might expect.

Sure, it’s partially a love story. Albeit a very different kind of love story. In fact, it’s the kind that ends up as a survival story. Iris (Yellowjackets‘ Sophie Thatcher) will have to go through an awful lot. And as the trailer reveals, it’s often by the hand of her beloved boyfriend, Josh (The Boys‘ Jack Quaid).

However, the official plot reveals something more. This focuses on how a weekend getaway at a lakeside estate goes haywire due to a billionaire’s sudden death. Yet another plot focuses on how an android built for human companionship (hence the title) goes off the rails.

Both plots are accurate while also grossly underselling the core story. This is a good thing because you need to experience this for yourself.

Sophie Thatcher is magnificent as Iris

The absolute star of Companion is Sophie Thatcher (Heretic, The Boogeyman) as Iris. She’s the special someone who was made just for Josh. Whether you’ve watched the trailer or you’re going into this unprepared, you’ll relatively quickly know the nature of Iris.

As the story evolves, so does Iris, which is the only way she can hope to survive. Sophie Thatcher is wonderful as Iris in every aspect of the character. Whether sweet and vulnerable or ready to fight for survival, Sophie Thatcher has already shown in her previous roles, that she’s got what it takes. As the star of this movie, she’s magnificent.

Josh is portrayed by Jack Quaid (Scream) who also delivers exactly what this role needs. He may seem like the sweet and kind “good guy” at first, but you always sense that there’s more to him. And there definitely is! In other key roles, we see Lukas Gage (Smile 2), Megan Suri (It Lives Inside), Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows, Blue Beetle), and Rupert Friend (Anatomy of a Scandal).

Everyone in this cast is wonderful. Some are downplayed while others are completely over-the-top. Both are needed for this story to work without getting too dark or going completely off the rails.

Watch Companion in theaters

Companion was written and directed by Drew Hancock. Previously, Drew Hancock worked as both writer and director on TV series such as My Dead Ex and Suburgatory. That also means this is the feature film debut of Drew Hancock and I’m very excited to see what comes next.

Whether it’s a TV series or feature film that will follow, I’ll certainly be intrigued. With Companion, Drew Hancock won the Palm Springs International Film Festival “Directors to Watch” and I can understand why. However, I would say he is equally intriguing as a writer as well as a talented director.

As someone who loves mixing genres, I enjoy the thriller and sci-fi hybrid. Still, it’s adding those moments of comedy that makes it work even better for me. Not unlike the series The Boys which stars Jack Quaid, Companion manages to get away with increasingly brutal moments due to these comedic pauses.

Whatever you prefer from your sci-fi thriller movies, this one is worth your time. It’s a real genre treat!

Companion (2025) is out in US theaters – and in many other countries – on January 31, 2025.

Details

Director: Drew Hancock
Writer: Drew Hancock
Cast: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, Rupert Friend