97 min | R | January 31, 2025 | Warner Bros. Pictures
Drew Hancock’s directorial debut is a nasty, clever thriller that earns its twists and never apologizes. Sophie Thatcher continues her winning streak.
Genre films live or die on execution. The premise can be tired. The beats can be familiar. What matters is whether the filmmakers commit to the material and deliver something that feels urgent instead of calculated. Companion commits completely. This is a weekend getaway that goes wrong in ways the marketing wisely refused to spoil. The less you know going in, the better.
Sophie Thatcher plays a woman whose relationship with her tech-bro boyfriend is not what it appears to be. Thatcher has been doing strong work in everything from Yellowjackets to The Boogeyman. She gets a role here that demands range, physicality, and absolute commitment to some deeply uncomfortable material. She delivers. Jack Quaid plays against type as the boyfriend and finds new colors in what could have been a stock character. The supporting cast, Harvey Guillén, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Rupert Friend, all do work that elevates the material.
Hancock directs with confidence and control. The film’s structure is a high-wire act. One wrong move and the whole thing collapses into camp or exploitation. He never loses his footing. The script by Hancock takes a premise that could feel gimmicky and finds genuine emotional stakes. The violence is brutal without being gratuitous. The twists recontextualize what came before instead of negating it.