June 4, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Film Review: Companion

FILM REVIEW
COMPANION
Rated R
97 Minutes
Released January 31st

Companion is like an O. Henry short story, moving at a breezy clip, with twist upon twist upon twist, never giving away that what seems to be true isn’t. It pokes fun at human nature again and again, laying bare our human tendencies toward insecurity and overcompensation due to self-doubt, leading to hunger for control and quest for power. The interplay between personalities will leave you pondering existential questions. The trajectory of the characters and their quests, human or otherwise, will draw you into the back-and-forth sways of power among a group of misfits and will lead you to their moments of realization. Of course, all the above is part of real life. 

However, here, it is condensed into this action-packed and emotion-laden story for you to have fun with while you sort it all out. All you need to remember is that what is real may be proven otherwise. The concept of re-set is explored in a humorous way. Humor pervades this movie even though it’s grounded in a horror-action story. The sets are simple but are key to the way the characters come to life. The dark greys of the interiors and the landscapes make the warmth of the faces stand out. 

There are plenty of color-rich shots for your visual senses to binge on, including the fascinating visual expressions of the cast, blood-soaked clothing, and peaceful arboreal backdrops, while your logical mind tries to figure out whodunit and what’s really going on. The screenplay is skillfully written. Hints in conversation, or an item that would seem to be peripheral in one scene, may later become instrumental to the shock value in a later scene. The overriding presentation is grounded in humor. We get to laugh at ourselves as humans.

The ensemble made up of Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Rupert Friend, Magan Suri, and Harvey Guillen converge for a fun weekend at a house in the woods – so the story begins, suggesting we are going to be watching the antics of a fun weekend with friends. Then, a completely startling action is taken by the person you’d least expect. From then on, the

unexpected takes over, with such rapid-fire timing, that you feel the roller-coaster of events grabbing your emotions and taking them to the top and speeding down. 

Through it all, you’ll begin to get attached to these people. I won’t give details because the plot is best experienced with eyes wide open. Thatcher has the magnetism to steal the show, and Quaid, Gage, and the ensemble match her power minute by minute. Casting director Nancy Nayor did an extraordinary job with this film without needing to bring on big names, and director Drew Hancock pulled great performances from his actors.

Director Drew Hancock grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and is a successful writer on comedy TV shows; he wrote the script during the pandemic as an exercise to practice a different medium. After he finished the first draft, he realized he hadn’t put his personality into it, so he went back and added details in his own style. He took the script to producers, who loved it and were going to attach experienced director Zach Cregger. When Cregger saw the passion that Hancock had for his own material, he suggested that Hancock should direct it himself. Not having ever helmed a feature, it took him two days to summon the courage to embrace the idea. I believe he wrote and directed a comedic, timely masterpiece.

You will find the end uplifting, funny, or frightening, however, you choose to perceive it. On the surface, Companion seems like a hilarious horror-comedy, or perhaps it’s a really twisted rom-com. Its deeper concepts will come to haunt your mind long after you’ve left the theatre. I wish Companion could be under consideration for an Academy Award – well, maybe it will be a “sleeper film” for 2026 nominations.

Kathryn Whitney Boole has spent most of her life in the entertainment industry, which has been the backdrop for remarkable adventures with extraordinary people.  She is a Talent Manager with Studio Talent Group in Santa Monica. kboole@gmail.com

<>Related Posts

Venice Beach Tapped to Host Paralympic Events in 2028 Games

June 4, 2025

June 4, 2025

The coastal neighborhood, already set to host triathlon, marathon, and road cycling starts for the 2028 Olympics, will showcase Paralympic...

(Video) Some of the Damage Caused By Vandals at Malibu High School Overnight

June 4, 2025

June 4, 2025

40 to 50 people, who are suspected to be students or recent alumni, used eggs, flour, and markers to deface...

Biggest Night of the Year: Don’t Miss GMCLA’s ‘Dancing Queens’

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

Culminating its 46th season, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles will grace the crowd with Dancing Queens, celebrating iconic...

Khatri International: Consider Rebuilding With Fire Resistant Construction Methods

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

What do office buildings, hospitals, schools, fire and police stations have in common? They are built with noncombustible construction methods...

Orchestra Santa Monica Extends Music Director’s Tenure Through 2030

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

Under his leadership, the orchestra has delivered a series of sold-out concerts, earning praise for his conducting skills Orchestra Santa...

Malibu High Targeted in Overnight Vandalism Spree; Investigation Underway

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

Destruction on Campus Prompts Sheriff’s Probe; Students Will Face Charges Vandals caused extensive damage to the school property of Malibu...

Project Aims to Preserve Palisades Fire Chimneys as Memorial

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

The proposed Palisades Fire Memorial, to be located on public land, will feature free-standing fireplaces and chimneys as a tribute...

Update: FireAid Fund Distributes $21M to Palisades and Adjacent Areas

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

The Pacific Palisades Community Council plans to briefly address this update at its next board meeting  The Pacific Palisades Community...

2025 Venice Pride to Feature a Block Party, Dance Event, Food Trucks, and More This Weekend

June 3, 2025

June 3, 2025

Attendees can expect performances by DJ Victor Rodriguez & Friends, a variety of community booths, food trucks, and a queer...

A Season of Gratitude: After One Year in Business, Urban Jungle Continues Making its Mark

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Over the last year, Urban Jungle, an indoor and tropical plants nursery, has continued its mission to cultivate a place...

The soul’s greatest hits

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

From ‘Ave Maria’ to ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ and ‘Ode to Joy,” a Santa Monica concert raising funds to help fire victims...

Design Options Emerge for Santa Monica Airport Conversion into Public Park

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Community feedback, gathered through over 4,984 survey responses, shows a strong preference for pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly designs, integrated water systems,...

Lane Closures Return to PCH in Malibu for Fire Recovery and Emergency Repairs

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Traffic Will Be Impacted as Caltrans and the USACE Conduct Cleanup  The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced updated...

Palisades Council Demands Accounting of FireAid Concert Funds

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

The FireAid concert, held on January 30, at the Intuit Dome and Kia Forum, raised an estimated $100 million, with...

Historic Venice Building Envisioned by Abbot Kinney Hits Market for $2.29M

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Kinney envisioned the building as part of an institutional foundation to rival Renaissance Italy, focusing on education and culture A...