Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
Companion is a surprising film that wraps up the January slate nicely. Iris, a kind and mild mannered woman joins her boyfriend to a remote cabin retreat for the weekend. Josh (her boyfriend) and his friends begin to notice something peculiar about Iris. The weekend quickly turns into chaos when Iris’ secret is revealed, leading to some unexpected events that no one could have predicted.
Positives:
The quality behind “Companion” is undeniable. Although it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, the unpredictable nature of the story is refreshing in a genre that is constantly testing the limits of audience expectation. The comparisons to “Barbarian” are fair as they share a lot of the same creative team. Director Drew Hancock presents a story so unique that I had to continue guessing where it would go next. Credit to Warner Bros. for taking this on as it mixes up their formula nicely. I’d say the tone of the film isn’t scary at all, but rather an unpredictable thriller that weaves social commentary about toxic relationships within the complex character dynamics. The film doesn’t get too preachy either (which is refreshing), but rather challenges the dynamics of dating in a modern world. It highlights some interesting ideas that I’m sure many who have struggled in the modern dating scene have faced. I won’t spoil the main points of the story that capture these struggles, but I can guarantee that most won’t see them coming.
The performances all around are great. Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid dominate the screen time as Iris and Josh, highlighting relationship complexities and certain imbalanced situations that some couples face. The longer the story goes on the more interesting the film gets, so this wouldn’t be possible without their commitment to the main relationship. Lukas Gage, Harvey Guillén, Megan Suri, and Rupert Friend round out the supporting performances. They all fit into the story nicely, giving audiences lots to chew on after the film concludes. I actually think “Companion” handles the blending of genres better than “Barbarian”. The pacing and tone felt more focused, which paid off with the social commentary and flow of the story.
Negatives:
I commend “Companion” for being a film that takes risks. But naturally when a film goes outside the box, it leaves room for the story to go off the rails. Most of the story works for me, but the longer it goes on the more it begins to overstay its welcome. Lots of the ideas about the selfishness of the characters nearly leans into the camp too much. Luckily, the film keeps things together just enough before it could implode. I wonder if the central idea of the story seems outlandish at this point considering the state of modern dating. The film also reveals what happens at the end within the first few minutes which I didn’t care for. While it makes for a bold beginning, the intrigue and suspense was dampened due to the early reveal.
Conclusion:
“Companion” continues the trend of subverting audience expectations. I’d argue that the twists and turns throughout the story are more satisfying than “Barbarian’s”, so shout out to the creative team for delivering another winner. The performances across the board are great, committing to this satirical exploration of modern dating and relationship dynamics. While the film isn’t exactly scary, it includes some unexpected thrills and surprises that are sure to leave audiences impressed. Definitely give this one a watch because it is a prime example of auteur filmmaking and inventive storytelling.
