Companion review: Watch the film, not the trailer

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Expert’s Rating

Our Verdict

Companion’s embrace of the absurd creates a wicked thriller/comedy genre mash-up. That said, you’ll only really be on the edge of your seat if you know as little as possible going in, and that’ll be a hard sell.

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If I’m being honest, writing a review of Drew Hancock’s latest thriller, Companion, is pretty darn tricky.

As I do for all screenings, I watched the trailer and checked out the preview images before the event. But in all honesty, I wish I’d gone in blind. While not all the twists are revealed in the promotional material, the biggest one is. The sticking point is that it may also be the trigger to get bums in seats.

Once you know that part of the plot, there are a lot of cheeky nods and clues that had me and other audience members chuckling with our insider knowledge. But a big part of me felt envious of the gasps heard in the cinema when people realised exactly what was going down.

I can’t make this a fair review without discussing Companion’s premise, but if you’re planning on going in spoiler-free (and I recommend you do), I can delay it. I will tell you that it’s a feminist thriller that is very much aware of how bizarre it is.

It follows a group of friends who travel to an isolated cabin for a relaxing break. However, one violent act completely turns everything upside down. Sounds quite generic, right? I promise it’s not, but I can’t tell you why… yet.

There’s an effective use of flashbacks in what is otherwise a film largely set in one location – like a bottle episode of TV. It’s also unexpectedly funny, with sharp jokes and many absurd hard cuts. The hilarious use of the line ‘the studio that brought you The Notebook’ in the teaser captures the black humour Companion loves to employ.

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…a big part of me felt envious of the gasps heard in the cinema when people realised exactly what was going down

This tone helps balance out the gore, which is helpful for anyone who is a bit of a pathetic wimp like me. I’d liken the tone to that of The Boys (without the superhero element), which may be a draw for any Jack Quaid fans, as he’s also the actor playing the male lead, Josh. What We Do in the Shadows star Harvey Guillén also deserves a lot of credit for bringing the fun as the character Eli.

For that reason, I wouldn’t call Companion a straight horror or slasher. Rather than relying on jump scares, the darker parts are more insidious and tie into several topical issues within society. With a run time of just 1 hour and 37 minutes, it’s a well-structured plot with no dithering. I’m a firm believer that longer doesn’t equal better.

Leading star Sophie Thatcher is incredible, which is no surprise considering her roles in Heretic and Yellowjackets. Her mannerisms are carefully considered as she takes on a very difficult part. She’s certainly carving a name for herself in the thriller/horror space, and I have no doubt we’ll see more of her in years to come.

That’s about as far as I can go without going into the trailer. So, stop here if you don’t want any spoilers.

If you need to know more, keep reading and feel free to watch the trailer below, though I won’t delve into any other twists beyond what the marketing shows.

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Reader, wake up.

Okay, still with me? Great. The key reason Thatcher’s performance is so stellar is I never thought I’d see an AI sex robot portrayed with such nuance.

And that’s the most attention-grabbing thing about this film; it’s what makes Companion stand out from the competition. The first twenty minutes of the flick don’t reveal this twist, but we see that Iris (which is fittingly Siri, backwards) doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of the group.

She’s perfect. Too perfect. Her adoration of Josh is over-infatuation, and her Barbie-doll-like appearance rarely changes – even while showering, her make-up remains flawless. And of course, it’s not helped that certain members of the group treat her as an inferior. After all, she can’t help the way she was built.

This movie has numerous references to the Terminator franchise, something I revelled in as an Arnie fan. However, rather than focusing on the ‘robots: bad’ theme, it explores how man-made, lifelike beings can turn humans into the worst of the worst. There are also many nods to The Stepford Wives.

Companion uses robots controlled by a smartphone as a metaphor for coercive and abusive relationships. With the current wariness over AI, the constant need for scrolling-induced dopamine and the dangerous rise of incel culture, it’s a film that captures the zeitgeist of the mid-2020s.

That said, there are some weak motivations for certain characters. Radical solutions drive this narrative, and when you start to pick it apart, they don’t feel like choices most rational people would make.

There’s also the classic slow movements/monologuing during life-or-death scenarios, which may annoy some. Of course, it’s hard to apply realistic thinking to a world about killer love bots, so I’m sure some viewers will be able to suspend their disbelief and enjoy the wild ride for what it is.

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I never thought I’d see an AI sex robot portrayed with such nuance

And yes, despite the most shocking story beat being spoilt in the trailer, there are still moments of wondrous surprises, with one revelation drawing a vocal response from my viewing crowd – I include myself in that group.

I can only say, don’t dissect that trailer above too much. Many other key moments that would have been jarring are shown in plain sight, and as such I often remembered what was coming before it was shown. Ironically, Terminator 2 also had the same problem with its marketing at the time.

And therein lies the issue with Companion’s marketing: to draw in the people who’d enjoy the film most, it needs to spoil its own surprises.

Should you watch Companion?

If you love thrillers with black humour and a rather insane premise, you will have a fun time watching Companion. Sophie Thatcher is a breakout star, and this is just the beginning of a thriving career for her.

Put simply, you’ll get the best experience if you don’t watch the trailers. Even the teaser.

If you’ve already gone past that point, or you need to convince a friend to come along with you, that may be unavoidable. Sadly, the marketing gives away the biggest twist, along with several flashes of other developments. Parts of the plot are also flimsy, but you may get carried away with all the violence and hilarity to overlook that.

I had a bloody good time watching it… I just wish I knew less beforehand.

Companion is out in cinemas on Friday 31 January 2025. UK viewers can grab tickets from Cineworld, Odeon and Vue, while those in the US can get them from AMC Theatres, Fandango and Atom Tickets.

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