Companion review by Bobby Blakey
The promotion for writer/director Drew Hancock’s film Companion was pretty genius initially reminding audiences that the studio brought them The Notebook and Barbarian for a new love story. Sadly, I think it shared too much in later trailers, but never enough to dissuade me from wanting to see it. Could this film have more to be revealed, or will it not be the companion you were hoping for?
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Companion follows a weekend getaway with friends at a remote cabin turns into chaos after it's revealed that one of the guests is not what they seem. The film stars Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén and Rupert Friend.
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The first teaser for this film was perfection pushing it like a romantic film before unleashing the insanity of it all. It left you confused and wondering what the heck was going on in the best possible way. The follow-up trailer seemingly spoiled the big twist, so I was aggravated heading in already knowing one of the biggest aspects to the story. To my surprise, there are a few other surprises that allow the film to still bring something unique to the story but it would have still been great to get hit with all of it.
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With the original trailer I think it sent my expectations to being way more out there than what is actually the result. I still thoroughly enjoyed the film, it just felt by the numbers on some level than the over-the-top insanity I had hoped for. This isn’t bashing the film but took away some of my expectations and hopes of what that original trailer planted in my mind. I typically love it when films go in an unexpected direction and hit you in the head, but with it going
more by the numbers there was a bit of a letdown. Even so there is still plenty here to enjoy.
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The film has an initial slow burn as we awkwardly meet all the characters and see their relationships. Once the moment that sets things in motion occurs it goes all in to become a mix of a comedy and horror as the blood starts flowing and the twists start coming. There is a great twist that most might not see coming early on that also adds all the more to the story later in the chaos to make it all better. The film shines concern and benefit on AI and reliability on technology with the good and the horrible.
The cast all do a good job, and the film ends up delivering a good time even if it moves by the numbers a lot of time. When it does venture off the usual path it shines and still has plenty that will no doubt entertain people willing to let it do its thing in all its strangeness.
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In addition to the film this release offers bonus content including featurettes on bringing this film to life. Choose your Companion available now on digital and then on 4K, Blu-ray and DVD on April 1st from Warner Bros Discovery Home Entertainment.