Companion - Review: A Twisted Parody of Modern Romance

Companion

A Twisted Parody of Modern Romance

★★★☆☆

A fun, entertaining diversion that suffers from an over-revealing marketing campaign.

Directed by Drew Hancock, Companion is a movie unfortunately spoiled by its own marketing material. The first 30 minutes are spent waiting for the narrative to catch up to what the audience already knows from the trailers. Despite this, it remains a mildly interesting story of awakening and survival, functioning as a dark parody of romantic relationship dynamics.

"Perhaps years from now someone will come upon the film and will have no previous knowledge of the plot... and I will envy them." — Ray Manukay

🎬 Production Brief

• Director: Drew Hancock
• Starring: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid
• Supporting: Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén
• Genre: Sci-Fi / Psychological Thriller / Black Comedy

Cleverly Spun Dark Comedy

Helping the experience along is an affable cast led by Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid. While the central "twist" may be common knowledge for those who followed the press, the film still manages to sprinkle in amusing, clever moments and shocking surprises. The plot deserves kudos for its creative use of black comedy, making it a worthwhile watch for fans of the genre.

💡 Cinephile Fun Facts

• Barbarian Connection: Produced by the same team behind the 2022 horror breakout Barbarian.
• Debut Feature: Marks the directorial debut for Drew Hancock, previously a writer for TV comedies.
• The "Anti-Trailer" Movement: Hancock expressed a desire for audiences to go in blind, despite the high-concept reveals in marketing.

✅ Pros

• Affable and engaging lead performances.
• Creative and effective use of black comedy.
• Still holds a few shocking surprises despite trailers.

❌ Cons

• Marketing campaign spoils the major first-act hook.
• Initial 30 minutes feel redundant if you've seen trailers.

The Full Analysis

Companion is a film that unfortunately suffers from being significantly spoiled by its own marketing material. The first thirty minutes of the movie are spent essentially waiting for the narrative to catch up to what the audience already knows, which creates a uniquely frustrating viewing experience. This is not to suggest that the director or the artists are to blame for this structural drag. A story naturally needs to establish its backstory, and the film attempts to cleverly string the audience along toward a major reveal.

It is easy to envision how impactful and fun that specific moment of revelation would have been if the twist had not been prematurely revealed in the trailer and the surrounding press coverage leading up to the release. One can only wonder what the experience would have been like entering the theater completely blind to the plot. However, that knowledge is already out there, and there is no changing the reality of the modern marketing machine. Perhaps years from now, a viewer will stumble upon this film with no prior knowledge of the plot, and they will be genuinely surprised by the narrative shift. I find myself envying that hypothetical future audience member.

What we are left with, however, is still a mildly interesting story centered on themes of awakening, survival, and a sharp parody of the traditional dynamics found in romantic relationships. The experience is greatly assisted by an affable and talented cast led by Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid, both of whom navigate the shifting tones of the script with ease. There are also several amusing and clever moments sprinkled throughout the runtime, along with a few remaining shocking surprises that ensure the overall experience is not a total waste of time.

The plot also deserves kudos for its creative use of black comedy, providing a biting edge to the more conventional thriller elements. While the marketing may have robbed the film of its primary sting, Companion remains a fun and entertaining diversion. It is certainly worth checking out, especially for those lucky enough to have no prior idea of what the film is actually about.

🏆 Final Verdict

Overall, Companion is an entertaining diversion. Check it out, especially if you have managed to avoid the trailers and have no idea what the film is about. You will likely enjoy the ride much more.

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