We’ve had quite a few movies about the horrors and potential threats that AI will pose to us all in the not-too-distant future. With technology taking huge leaps and bounds seemingly on a daily basis, the very real prospect of robotic companions looks ever more imminent, and it’s this subject that is given a wonderfully dark twist with the black comedy/thriller ‘Companion’. Writer/Director Drew Hancock has delivered one of the most enjoyable movies in years, featuring a star-making turn from Sophie Thatcher.
Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and her boyfriend Josh (Jack Quaid) are on their way to Josh’s friend’s holiday house in the country. Secluded and far from home, the lakehouse promises a fun weekend with Josh’s friend Kat (Megan Suri) and her shady Russian boyfriend Sergey (Rupert Friend), whose house it is. Joining them for the vacation is Eli (Harvey Guillén) and his boyfriend Patrick (Lukas Gage). Iris wants to make her boyfriend happy and for the weekend to be a success, but is keenly aware that Kat doesn’t really like her. As events unfold, Iris learns some telling truths about herself as the stakes raise considerably.
Sophie Thatcher is a star on the rise. After stellar turns in projects like ‘Yellowjackets’, ‘Heretic’, ‘The Book of Boba Fett’ and ‘The Boogeyman’, Thatcher has carved out a varied career that has impressed at every turn. She is fantastic in ‘Companion’ and leads the film with natural charisma and charm. Her role of Iris has delivered one of the best genre heroes we’ve seen for some time, capturing the magic needed to effectively sell this premise so convincingly.
Thatcher shares a wonderful chemistry with ‘The Boys’ star Jack Quaid onscreen, with their relationship being the central hook of the film. Jack has certainly inherited his father Dennis Quaid’s charm and natural onscreen charisma. He and Sophie Thatcher are the beating heart of this movie and their exchanges are really fantastic to see unfold, especially when things start to really go south.
The rest of the cast are all great too, with ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ star Harvey Guillén very funny as Eli. Megan Suri captures the bitchiness of Kat exceptionally well, and Lukas Gage manages to delight and scare in equal measure. Stealing all of his scenes though is Rupert Friend as Sergey who hams it up big time, but in the very best way possible.
The film is shot so beautifully, with a colour palate to match. It’s gorgeously rendered, with even the more brazen and violent scenes carrying a delicate, quiet elegance. And after all that, throw in one of the best soundtracks you’re going to hear all year. The haunting score by Hrishikesh Hirway is perfectly placed in the narrative, with tracks including ‘The Byrds – You Showed Me’, ‘The Goo Goo Dolls – Iris’, ‘Book of Love – Boy’ and Samantha Sanga feat. The Bee Gees – Emotion’ all delivering pivotal emotional punches exactly when needed. Even Paul Russell’s catchy ‘Lil Boo Thang’ is brilliantly featured here.
‘Companion’ is the first truly fun and enjoyable cinema trip to take in 2025. It’s a heady mix of comedy, horror, thriller and romantic-drama that hits all of it’s marks and delivers a fantastic night out. Shot with style and flair, Drew Hancock deserves all of the plaudits for making this such a brilliant ride, and with this ensemble all going above-and-beyond to make it so entertaining, ‘Companion' comes in as the first must-see film of the year.
Cast: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Harvey Guillén, Megan Suri, Lukas Gage, Rupert Friend Director: Drew Hancock Writer: Drew Hancock Certificate: 15 Duration: 97 mins Released by: Warner Bros Release date: 31st January 2025
