Love, Lies, and the Ultimate Relationship Upgrade—What Could Go Wrong?
Let’s get one thing straight right out of the gate—if you haven’t seen the trailer for The Companion, DON'T! Avoid it like TikTok's terms-and-conditions agreement because it spoils what should have been one of the year’s most delicious twists. But since Hollywood marketing teams have the restraint of a toddler on a sugar high, I’ll just say this: do your best to go in blind, and thank me later. Now, onto the film itself, and ill do my best at a SPOILER FREE review
The Companion is Directed by Drew Hancock (stepping up to the plate after Barbarian’s Zach Cregger passed the torch), It is a slick, darkly funny horror-thriller that takes aim at love, control, and the nightmare-fuel potential of... 'companionship'. It’s part Black Mirror, part rom-com gone horribly, horribly wrong.
We start with Iris (Sophie Thatcher, steadily securing her scream queen crown), who’s living the dream—or at least that’s what it looks like. She meets Josh (Jack Quaid), and their romance plays out like a scene straight from the rom-com rulebook: longing glances, effortless chemistry, and an inordinate number of oranges. (Seriously, so many oranges.) Flash forward, and the happy couple is off to a getaway at what was supposed to be a humble cabin in the woods and... well, and that’s when things start getting... complicated. I’d love to give you the full play-by-play of what happens next, but that would be like telling you the secret in a magician’s trick. Just know that when Hancock finally allows the twist to unravel, you'll begin to question “perfect” relationships. So lets move on.
Hancock’s script is a chef’s kiss debut, blending high-concept sci-fi with the kind of tension that makes your popcorn taste like regret. It’s like finding out your favorite influencer couple isn’t just scamming their fans—they’re running a cult, too. The pacing is relentless, the humor is darker than your ex’s soul, and the film never underestimates its audience. The themes? Oh, they’re there, loud and clear—gender dynamics, power imbalances, the commodification of love—but Hancock doesn’t lecture. Instead, he lets you laugh while he pulls the rug out from under the fantasy of romance, leaving you flat on your back wondering if love was ever real to begin with.
Performance-wise, Thatcher is a force of nature. She plays Iris with a layered intensity, seamlessly shifting between warmth, unease, and cold calculation. Quaid, meanwhile, walks the fine line between charming and chilling with ease, making Josh a character you’re simultaneously drawn to and deeply unsettled by. The supporting cast—Harvey Guillén and Lukas Gage—add an extra dose of intrigue as well..
Now, The Companion is freaky, yes. Suspenseful? Absolutely. But it’s also funny as hell. Hancock knows exactly when to undercut the tension with a well-placed joke, ensuring that the film never falls into the trap of self-seriousness. It’s a balancing act that not many horror-thrillers pull off, but this one nails it.
So, is it perfect? Not quite. Some critics argue that The Companion could have leaned even harder into its thematic depths. Others point out that a few plot mechanics could have been smoothed over. And yeah, the trailer department really should’ve been muzzled. But these are nitpicks in the grand scheme of things. The movie works! it is an engaging thriller, a sharp satire, and a wildly entertaining ride.
Overall, The Companion is a finely-tuned genre beast that knows exactly what kind of ride it wants to take you on—one without a seatbelt. A little more thematic muscle could’ve elevated it to legendary status, but as it stands, it’s one of 2025’s must-watch films. Smart, stylish, and sinister in all the right ways.
The score - 4 out of 5 BRYANS. Would’ve been 5 if the marketing team hadn’t spilled the beans faster than your friend who ‘swears’ they won’t spoil the latest Paradise episode.
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