The following review is for a film rated R by the MPA. The film contains excessive profanity, blood and violence, drug and alcohol abuse, misogyny, and implied sexual acts.
“There were two times I felt truly happy. First, the day I met Josh; second, the day I killed him.”
These words, narrated by story protagonist Iris, kick off Companion, a darkly funny romance turned horror that dropped in theaters just in time for Valentine’s Day. Companion follows the recent trend of first-time directors with a background in TV sketch comedy putting out high-concept indie horrors. The trend started with Jordan Peele’s Get Out in 2017, and the past couple of years have seen Zach Cregger of The Whitest Kids You Know launch 2022’s Barbarian and Kyle Mooney of SNL recently drop Y2K.
Drew Hancock, a writer for Channel 101, both wrote and directed Companion as his first feature. While a great number of first films feel like first drafts, Hancock has created an exquisite blend of nail-biting thriller and laugh-out-loud comedy. Companion is the first must-watch film of 2025.
The movie revolves around Iris, played by Sophie Thatcher of Yellowjackets and Heretic fame. Iris is going to spend a weekend at a remote mountain house with her boyfriend Josh, portrayed by Jack Quaid (Scream 5, The Boys), and his friends. These friends include trained chef Patrick (Lukas Gage), his life-of-the-party boyfriend Eli (Harvey Guillén), Josh’s aloof former girlfriend Kat (Megan Suri), and Kat’s current fling and owner of the house Sergey (Rupert Friend). Bad things happen to everyone.
That’s all the plot you’re getting. Companion is full of surprises that come fast and often, and knowing too much ruins that experience. The film elevates some old twists that have been done before to new heights, and while the overall plot treads worn ground, the execution keeps the film surprising and fresh. If you are at all interested in seeing this film, avoid any spoilers. Some of the marketing material even spoils the mystery, so if you want a trailer, only watch the one below.
That said, a dark comedy with elements of romance and horror means one inevitable thematic topic will appear: toxic relationships. While things seem great for the three couples at the film’s start, the events of the plot test the mettle of each couple and the power imbalances of their relationships. Other indie horrors like Gerald’s Game and Fresh also explore these themes, but Companion stands apart because of how the broken couples damage the other couples too. Misery is said to love company, and that is very true in Companion.
Characters in this movie feel deeply flawed, which makes them feel more real. Sophie Thatcher shows incredible range with Iris, who endures unbelievable heartbreak, sickening torture, and yes, the two moments of uplifting happiness mentioned at the start of this article and the film. Jack Quaid saturates every scene with comedic genius: even when acting sinister and doing unforgivable things, he sustains the goofy charm that made him such an effective surprise killer in Scream 5.
Other standouts include Harvey Guillén, who balances aggressive take-charge and clueless panic perfectly, and Lukas Gage, who (with this role as well as the Cat King in Dead Boy Detectives and weight-to-the-face Lewis in Smile 2) may be the next breakout Hollywood leading man. The small cast benefits the scripts, as the film spends enough time with each character to define them.
However, some smaller issues keep the film from being perfect. While Eli and Patrick’s relationship is just as toxic as every other love in the film, the film portrays it as more romantic and justified than those of the other couples. This unneeded and fumbled redemption undercuts a lot of what the film says about love during the rest of its runtime.
The filmmaking is competent but not special. Shots are effective, pacing is good, and the use of color makes sense, but nothing stands out as particularly beautiful or cinematic. Compared to similar films like M3GAN, Barbarian, and even Y2K, the film lacks memorable images while having no shortage of memorable moments. It’s not bad-looking, but it’s forgettable.
While the film does a great job showing instead of telling, the visuals don’t always rise to the extremes set by the characters, so they come off as flat. One particularly maddening detail is the house: while the characters make a lot out of the huge size of the house, only three rooms are ever shown. There’s also some less-than-stellar CGI at the end of the film.
Still, this movie shines despite its flaws. The film earns its R-rating, and while the film avoids gore, there’s a whole lot of blood and some fleshy bits. Anyone who feels uncomfortable with films depicting abusive relationships will also want to avoid the film. While Companion may not be a great date movie, go out with friends and laugh at this seriously funny and well-written horror romp.
