As a self-proclaimed “Yellowjackets” superfan, I felt it was my civic duty to see Sophie Thatcher’s newest venture: a horror film written and directed by the guy who did “Fred 3: Camp Fred,” of all things.

Thatcher’s presence in the horror scene has been quite impressive in the past few years. Since her leading role appearance in “Heretic,” she’s solidly fleshed out her filmography with big name projects. I have always been interested in the career of her co-star, “The Boys” star Jack Quaid, so I thought it was worth a shot.

I packed up a few friends and made my way to Columbia’s own GQT Forum 8 on a Thursday night, where we sat in a half-filled theater with some blue Icees. Though I had been aware of the movie’s plot before going, my friends didn’t know much at all and were certainly in for a treat. I cozied up and braced myself for the best, or perhaps the worst.

What I was served is hard to describe.

To put it frankly, if you plan on seeing “Companion,” I urge you to go in completely, 100% blind. That means no trailer, no plot summary and no promotional material. This film is one of many to fall victim to the promo-spoiler curse and I genuinely believe that I would have had a better time if I had gone in totally unknowing.

There are many fantastic things about “Companion.” For starters, the blanket concept is phenomenal, proposing many moral questions for the audience to ask themselves and reflect upon, especially with today’s technological setting. Something so timely can give a very real, very existential tone to something that isn’t very scary on its own, making it a unique horror experience.

One thing I can certainly admit about “Companion” is that it has something important to say. Its commentary on femininity, love and control and the way those things are perceived by the people of the real world is compelling and definitely worth exploring. I, for one, hope upcoming filmmakers take the ideology of this film and expand upon it, opening up a new door in the “good for her” horror subgenre – the type of film where women make the unhinged choice, but the justified one.

However, I think “Companion” is held back by a few things: its plot and ensemble cast.

That isn’t to say the plot is flat-out bad. It’s average, and the story doesn’t drag in any obvious way. Perhaps it was a diversion from what I was expecting or a wrench in the hero’s journey, but I felt like a lot of the beats were predictable or unsurprising, which was disappointing because the film in principle is so original.

I also think the ensemble casting decision was a poor choice. Though many of the secondary actors and characters are generally fine (other than Lukas Gage, who I thought sold his unique role extremely well), none of their stories really hold a candle to the character work with Thatcher as Iris and Quaid as Josh.

Thatcher, though, is a fantastic emotional actress; she’s highly reactive and able to control the most subtle of expressions on her face to portray her characters. She is a true master at acting and I have yet to see a performance of hers that didn’t impress me. As for Quaid, his showcasing of anger was impressive, making for an overwhelming experience. The two also have amazing chemistry and, together, are an ingenious pairing.

Perhaps too ingenious. 

Moments where the two shared the screen were the best scenes by a mile, but were mostly few and far between. I often felt annoyed or unentertained by the one-dimensional side characters, who were all treated more like plot devices rather than meaningful additions to the narrative. Thatcher and Quaid stole the show so aggressively that it was almost impossible to care about anyone else.

That being said, I don’t think “Companion” should be a film to skip out on. I was lucky enough to watch it in theaters with enthralled friends and lively audiences who gasped, laughed and cheered when necessary. The emotional beats, at least for me, really hit and the third act showcases possible contenders for some of the best acting of 2025. I would have made some cinematic changes, but I don’t necessarily think it makes for a bad film or a bad time.

In the end, “Companion” has many things to say. It’s a clear labor of love, and will likely leave an impact on many audiences. Perhaps its execution was lackluster, but I don’t think it means we shouldn’t listen. Sometimes, a movie showcasing its intentions is enough.

Edited by Ava McCluer | amccluer@themaneater.com 

Copy edited by Caroline Sweet and Emma Short | eshort@themaneater.com

Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com