By Matthew Moorcroft

Solid Recommendation

• Directed by Drew Hancock
• Starring Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri
• R

While it’s reputation as a dumping ground hasn’t been completely unfounded, in recent years January has slowly but surely also developed a reputation for putting stranger, more out there affairs for studios who may not be confident in their overall success. Just two years ago saw the release of M3GAN and Sick in the span of two weeks, both successful and wildly original horror films that used classic premises in a way that made them feel fresh again.

Companion is in that same vein, though honestly the less you know about this one, the better. Make no mistake folks – Companion rocks, a certified twister of a time that only gets wilder and more unexpected the further it goes. It’s the kind of thriller film that is far more interested in taking the most interesting narrative decision possible for it’s story then sticking to expected tropes and ideas, and thanks to an absolutely top tier script it’s able to stick the landing wholesale.

No specific plot stuff here this time, as much of said thrills are based in well placed revelations and smart pacing decisions that build upon one another in increasingly wild ways. The first 15 minutes are a great example of this, almost acting like a completely different movie for a little bit before throwing the rug out from under you in spectacular fashion. But the pieces are there if you are paying attention closely, and once your mind clues on what you think it’s about, the movie throws a curveball what completely warps that judgment.

Because of that, I also find it difficult to discuss the film’s thematic tissue as well, as it’s centered a lot around said revelations and how it relates back to our lead. The most I will say is that it’s very successful on that front, if a little blunt. But subtlety has never been something films like these have prioritized, and keeping the message clear and overt means it can use it’s script for some well placed humor and likable (or at least humanistic) characterization of it’s cast.

So much of the success of the feature is on it’s lead performance by the ever talented and increasingly iconic Sophie Thatcher, whose turn here is utterly charismatic, charming, but also increasingly complicated and nuanced in how she navigates this new, bizarre situation for her. With a script that is also eager to do new things with her character throughout, Thatcher really uses this chance to spread her wings and showcase her acting chops – something that most people would already know if they watched her great work in Yellowjackets. Most of the supporting cast are mostly here to elevate her performance, with reliable performers like Jack Quaid and Rupert Friend doing good work while making sure to never steal her spotlight too much.

Newcomer director Drew Hancock – who took over and directed his own script at Zach Cregger’s suggestion – doesn’t wow too much here visually but he has a keen eye for tension and just general setpiece building. Geography is well laid out, and the script has so many Chekov’s guns that it’s difficult to name all of them in one go, especially when the majority of them are hidden in plain sight for all to see. But what Hancock seems to be especially good at is misdirection and slight of hand tricks; the film actively tells you almost right away what the twist of the movie is going to be, but how we get there – and how it’s hidden – is part of the fun. It wants the audience to go along for the ride. It wants that participation.

Add in some gnarly as hell kills and a wickedly good final act, and you have yourself an easy winner for the early year. And while you have some clunky dialogue here and there – the early exposition dump of what is really going on is a bit much and there is a sense of characters saying rather then feeling – but other then that this is just a tightly drawn, incredibly entertaining time at the movies. Highly recommend to those who love going into their thrillers and genre fare blind.