In the dark dreary months of January, outside of the award season hopefuls and 2024 box office holdovers, the cinema landscape can feel like a desolate place. Often treated as a dumping ground for the surefire misses, there is little to thrill or excite audiences as we await the warmer weather and more plentiful cinema schedules to arrive. Perhaps offering an early sign of salvation, however, and arguably leading the charge for what could be one of the most impressive years for the horror genre, Companion blends sci-fi and horror in Drew Hancock’s Black Mirror-esque directorial debut. A weekend retreat at a secluded cabin with her boyfriend’s friend turns into the stuff of nightmares for Iris, who is forced to question her relationships as a cat-and-mouse game ensues. Starring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid, Companion is a film whose twists and turns are best experienced as unspoiled as possible.
A near-future premise that presents a meet-cute then sketches a well-formed world effectively around it, Companion punctuates a cautionary tale with an amusing comedic tone and flourishes of strong bloody horror, crafting an eclectic tonal concoction for audiences to enjoy. Eli Born’s stylish cinematography helps to conjure a retro vision which gives the film a visually seductive edge, and further imbues an uneasy atmosphere to proceedings that suitably unbalances audiences from its opening moments; in fact, the entire opening act contains some truly sophisticated work that, in conjunction with steadfast direction from Hancock, lines us up for a neat and propulsive thriller to sink our teeth into.
Tumbling over a handful of predictable horror tropes towards its finale, which surrenders many of the surprises that made the first half so much more enjoyable, that we end up with an altogether more rote and less creatively stimulated conclusion is certainly a little disappointing, but the back half of Companion not entirely devoid of its own charms and quirks: with some great soundtrack work and superb production design on display, it's not a total misstep. Hancock's screenplay does struggle to deliver on the unique potential of its premise in a particularly inspired way, almost as if its crumbling under the weight of such an idea, but there's a winning, scrappy spirit to Companion that it manages to withstand even throughout that weaker final stretch,
Sophie Thatcher proves herself a horror darling after her impressive breakout in 2024’s Heretic and similarly captivating work here, ensuring the trappings of the character’s true state do not stifle her performance. With a well-weaponised cool composure that never dilutes the fear and jeopardy of her predicament, Thatcher delivers a captivating turn, one that should continue a solid career trajectory within the genre and beyond. Flanked with wonderful costuming details, Thatcher really thrives in the role with a sympathetic character performance. Likewise, Quaid continues to make a name for himself within the genre, executing a sturdy performance that utilises the menacing “decent guy” archetype to strong effect. If Rupert Friend’s glorified cameo further plays into the current trend of awarding tertiary roles to the cast’s biggest name and allowing them to run wild with little restraint, at least he doesn’t overstay his welcome.
With Drew Hancock’s directorial debut, Companion offers the audience a stylish, perfectly enjoyable sci-fi horror hybrid that, while never pushing either genre far enough - the gory moments are strong but surprisingly brief, while its dystopian elements are not quite as sharply realised or originally creative as they could be - nevertheless results in a thrilling romp hopefully leads the charge for the genre’s banner year ahead. Sophie Thatcher continues to assert herself as one of the genre’s brightest new talents, with similarly strong work from Jack Quaid, who creates a compelling dynamic that digs into the heart of dating expectations in the modern age.