Companion Review: An Unnerving Love Story

With Companion, writer/director Drew Hancock crafts quite the twisted horror love story featuring a phenomenal performance from Sophie Thatcher.

It offers insightful thoughts on relationships while cleverly playing with some old clichés. Not only that; you have a budding star in Sophie Thatcher, returning to horror for the third straight year following her big screen turns in The Boogeyman (2023) and Heretic (2024). She takes things to another level in Companion and helps make it one of the most unique entries into horror in the past few years. 

What I am not going to do here is tell you that Drew Hancock has crafted one of the scariest horror movies ever made. First of all, it is far too early in the year to be throwing around a sentence like that. Secondly, audiences probably will not find Companion to be scary in the traditional sense. This film only gets a bit bloody and there are no real jump scares to speak of either. Thanks to Hancock throwing comedic moments into the narrative, audiences will not constantly be gripping their seats in terror. So, why is this a horror movie? Hancock crafts something that plays on our emotions and expectations when it comes to relationships, proving once again that the most horrifying films are rooted in reality. 

Companion focuses on a young woman named Iris (Thatcher) who takes a trip with her boyfriend, Josh (Jack Quaid, The Boys) to a lakeside abode where Josh’s friends are awaiting them. The duo seem to be like your average couple, and we even get a flashback to their adorable meet-cute. However, this trip turns out to be much more complicated than Iris ever anticipated and her world will never be the same. 

With this unconventional love story, Drew Hancock provides us with chills, laughs, and some surprisingly fantastic commentary on toxic relationships. On the surface, Iris and Josh have this loving relationship, but early on the cracks begin to show. Josh (Quaid) reminds Iris (Thatcher) to “smile and act happy” when she expresses her unease over whether his friends like her. He brushes off his partner’s concern and not once does he attempt to defend Iris from Kat (Megan Suri, It Lives Inside) when she has already shown a contempt for Iris in the past. Women are expected to conform and fit into their significant other’s friend groups if they want to maintain the relationship. Personally, I do not think someone like Iris, who is nothing but kind to Kat, deserves to be treated like garbage by someone she is forced to spend time with. That is just one element bound to make audience members in relationships squirm here, because we have all been there.

Hancock puts an unforgiving spotlight on people who seem nice on the surface but are anything but in reality. These types usually long for a submissive partner. As soon as their significant other expresses any sort of doubt or desire to do something else, they fly off the handle and gaslight them into doing whatever they want to “fix” things. Josh represents the so-called “nice guy” who does not see his lover as their own person, but rather thinks of them as someone that only exists to serve him. This sort of toxicity is prevalent in our society, as more and more people blame their failed relationships on anyone but themselves and bitterly pursue the ideal partner they feel is owed to them rather than someone they feel genuine love for. 

Jack Quaid is the ideal person to bring this sort of character to life because he can portray both sides well. Josh has enough boyish nerdy charm to get you to let your guard down even if you do not think he is completely harmless. Credit for that goes to Quaid because the actor does seem like a fun person to be around offscreen and that bleeds into his performance in Companion. That kind nature also makes his darker turns even more fascinating. To be honest, Josh sent a slight chill up my spine because Jack Quaid portrays him as if some of the worst things that he does were just a normal occurrence and as if he truly did not care. Not only is that frightening, but so is the fact that there are people out there who act and think just like him. 

Then you have Iris, Josh’s partner who will do anything to make him happy, even if she herself is not. In the face of mistreatment, Iris has to bite her tongue because she, like many people but especially women, has been taught to “know her place” under the threat of their romantic relationships ending.

This is someone audience members can see themselves in and root for, even if they have not experienced a toxic relationship. Sophie Thatcher remarkably conveys the restraint that is required when you are dealing with an unstable partner. Projecting yourself as  being “fine” when you are not is a hard task even for an actor. Thatcher nails this and slowly but surely her face begins to tell a different story. 

When she finally breaks, audiences see a different side of both Iris and Thatcher. She has much more of a chaotic energy while frantically trying to figure out how to leave Josh behind. Iris also has to come to terms with the events that led to her running from Josh and subsequently being chased by him and his friends. 

Scream Queen Sophie Thatcher gives a  brilliant performance that will blow you away. Iris is an incredibly complex character and Thatcher puts everything she has into her throughout Companion. Audiences see Iris’ love for Josh slowly fade, but we also witness the fear she has, and her quick, calculated thinking. Thatcher presents such genuine emotion that will play with your nerves a ton and ultimately make you express just how beautiful it was to watch long after you have left the theater. 

Drew Hancock does not keep things serious all the time, as Companion does feature a few solid jokes that lighten the mood. Its best laughs come from moments which utilize some clichés revolving around the overall theme of relationships. However, there are some jokes that fall flat on their face, which is not ideal. Thankfully, the story moves so fast that you will not have much time to dwell on those misses. Hancock’s narrative passes by quickly but everything feels properly developed, even as story beats get more and more bonkers. I would suggest going in as blind as possible to preserve these moments for yourself. As much as I have said here, I have tried to remain vague because this film deserves to be seen unspoiled. 

Companion is a jaw dropping ride. Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid are excellent in this love story unlike any other which is filled with blood, comedy, and twist after twist. After 2024 was a banner year for the horror genre, I am thrilled that Drew Hancock has kept the momentum going. 

Companion will be released in US theatres, in UK & Irish cinemas, and globally in theaters on January 31, 2025.