• Release year: 2025
• Director: Drew Hancock.
• Producers: Zach Cregger, Roy Lee, J. D. Lifshitz, Josh Mack, and Raphael Margules.
• Screenplay by: Drew Hancock.
• Cinematography by: Eli Born.
• Music by: Hrishikesh Hirway.

Shotgun Commentary: 2025 is starting strong on female-led horror, and I LOVE IT.

Review

Companion is the best of bubblegum horror, accompanied by the really terrifying bit about AI: how humanity uses it. This film has huge Ready or Not (2019) vibes, not just because you follow one woman as she tries to survive a group of unhinged people, but also because of how much humour is in it. If you enjoyed that title or Abigail (2024), chances are, you are going to love this one.

A story worth telling

Like many other great horror classics, the pink and red colour scheme of the initial credits already promises great things, events that will presumably be especially satisfying for female audiences. And they so are. Companion not only proposes a fascinating premise, but also develops it beautifully.

The narrative is in continuous transformation, from a slightly unnerving thriller, to a survival feature, to the liberation of women through female rage. All these stages are accompanied by thrilling plot twists and mad reveals that keep you hooked to the account.

Scream queen on the rise

The protagonist of the story is Iris (Sophie Thatcher), a woman very much in love with her boyfriend Josh (Jack Quaid), who seems to be more than willing to bend over backwards to create the perfect relationship. The only problem? Josh doesn’t seem all that keen. This one-sided relationship hits its breaking point after the death of a millionaire in whose house the couple is not staying with friends.

It’s not Thatcher’s first rodeo in a horror film, and it shows. Iris is a complex character whose emotions vary quite drastically in short periods of time, which makes the actress’ adaptability and control over her performance shine brightly. Still, there is one pretty disappointing flaw in Iris’ personality, one particular aspect that is supposed to vary significantly throughout the film, yet no apparent change takes place.

However, this is not the actress’ fault, but rather the script’s. You would expect a character with a nut allergy to be eating peanuts, the same way you would expect someone smart to make absurd decisions. In that sense, the film does a bit of self-sabotaging, a small hitch that becomes irrelevant in a feature with so many successful ingredients.

A strong counterpart

As for Jack Quaid, he seems to be riding a pretty good wave right now with roles in exciting content like this thriller, The Boys (2019 – present) and future action comedy Novocaine (2025). Whoever is throwing roles his way definitely knows his strengths, and his role as Josh is no exception.

Quaid has this harmless-good-guy look that pairs perfectly with plenty of archetypes, Josh’s persona being one of them. This physical advantage, along with his unquestionable acting abilities, result in a flawlessly delivered performance that matches Thatcher’s to perfection and creates an explosive tale to burst open the 2025 season of horror.

All in all, Companion works in all levels. The plot is wonderful and riveting, posing questions of humanity and empathy, and commenting on the pandemic of manchildren. The cast is spot-on, with exceptional performances from all actors involved, and the photography is gorgeous, settings, wardrobe and makeup working in perfect sync to create a work of art. Any horror lover with a passion for beautiful aesthetics will definitely have a field day with this spectacular feature.

Thanks to Warner for big-screen access! Companion will be out in UK cinemas the 31st of January.

Advice to take from this movie:

• Stop blaming others for your misfortunes.
• Never trust automated cars.
• Making a relationship work is the responsibility of everybody involved, not just one party.

What’s your take? Have you watched Companion? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀