Companion (2025) - The scoop and digest

Satirical sci-fi horror is written and directed by Drew Hancock and unrelated to 2021 film of same name.

Sophie Thatcher - Iris

Jack Quaid - Josh

Lukas Gage - Patrick

Megan Suri - Kat

Harvey Guillén - Eli

Rupert Friend - Sergey

Summary

Iris and her boyfriend Josh travel to a remote lakehouse for a weekend getaway with friends Kat, Sergey, Eli and Patrick.

The following day, Sergey tries to sexually assault Iris and she kills him in self-defense.

You go girl.

After explaining happened, Josh shuts her down by uttering "Iris, go to sleep".

Waking her up, Josh reveals he reprogrammed emotional support robot to kill Sergey, so they could steal his fortune.

When Iris escapes, Kat, Josh, Eli and his 'companion' Patrick go hunting.

Weaponised love

Despite doing nothing already seen in Ex Machina, T.I.M. and Subservience, this is original in its own right, and hugely assisted by splendid performances from Thatcher and Quaid, with Gage strong in support.

Also, gore and dark humour are carefully balanced.

Year isn't mentioned, but Josh's phone displaying "Sunday, June 25" means the earliest film could be set is 2028.

Even though Iris doesn't tell us how she killed Josh at the beginning, her using an electric corkscrew before he can destroy her hard drive was stunningly predictable.

Subtle nods are made to Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

Patrick is named after Robert Patrick and like the T-1000, impersonates a police officer he killed.

Iris rips off 'skin' to expose metal arm.  Circumstances may be different, but Arnie does the same in front of Dyson.

Psycho Spoof Beast #8

Miscellany

Deathcember - Crappy Christmas: Operation Christmas Child segment vs Coca Cola and Santa

Revengor¹ - The Intergalactic Adventures of Max Cloud vs Shao Kahn - Mortal Kombat II

¹If 'gameplay screen' wasn't enough, end boss frequently chats shit, just like...

Red Card vs Vinnie Jones grabbing Paul Gascoigne's crotch²

²During a clash between Wimbledon and Newcastle on 6 February 1988.

Grand Theft Auto V

Vinewood vs Hollywood

Consumer advice vs MPAA

Future Cops (1993)

The second live-action parody of Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (after City Hunter) features characters such as Lung (Ryu), Broomhead (Guile), Thai King (Sagat) and Chun-may (Chun-Li).

There are no counterparts for Zangief or Balrog, and because it was released a few months before The New Challengers, forget about Cammy, Fei Long, Dee Jay and T. Hawk.

This may have been inspired by the special ending in the 1992 SNES port.

Despite a few enforced changes, the final shot of Street Fighter (1994) gave shit an admirable stab.

The Wicker Man (1973)

Radiohead - Burn The Witch video

Disenchantment - Part 1 E6

Splatterhouse (2010) - Phase 10 - The Wicker Bride

If all the boys escape death in Until Dawn, you'll receive The Quicker Man trophy.

Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936) is one of the best-selling books of all time.

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People³

³Memoir was later adapted into a 2008 film starring Simon Pegg.

How to Talk Dirty and Influence People

Screeching Weasel - How to Make Enemies and Irritate People

Terrorvision - How to Make Friends and Influence People

Doom Eternal

The Fortress of Doom contains a library of Doom-themed spins on classic literature, including How to Win Friends and Kill Demons.

Son of Man - René Magritte

Roald Dahl - The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar & Six More

Naked Lunch

Headmaster: Extra Time Edition

8-Bit Zombie vs Ghosts 'n Goblins⁴

⁴Promo arcade flyer mispells title as Ghost 'n Goblins.

32-Bit Zombie vs Gryzor

64-Bit Zombie vs GoldenEye

Andy Warhol

I could've used any example, but settled on this.

Marilyn diptych (1962)

Monumental work was completed just weeks after her death.

Anyway.

Zombieland

Wreck-It Ralph

Wes Craven's New Nightmare

Trainspotting

The Lego Movie

The Inbetweeners 2

DOA: Dead or Alive

Austin Powers in Goldmember

Family Guy - A Picture's Worth a Thousand Bucks (S2 E11)

And.

Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse - Cheeseburger Down

Considering video game was released 12 years after episode, what an odd reference.

Albums

Flying Lotus - Flamagra (2019) vs Michael Jackson - Dangerous (1991)

The Rolling Stones - Sticky Fingers (1971)

Mötley Crüe - Too Fast For Love (1981) and Falling in Reverse - Just Like You (2015)

Elvis Presley - Elvis Presley (1956)

Glasvegas - Godspeed (2021), Monkeys of Syion - Superficial Lover (2009) and The Clash - London Calling (1979)

Famous paintings

Joanna Newsom - Ys vs Portrait of Georg Giese - Hans Holbein the Younger 

Accept - Russian Roulette vs Belshazzar's Feast - Rembrandt

Paloma Faith - A Perfect Contradiction vs Entombment - Caravaggio

Cradle of Filth

Cryptoriana - The Seductiveness of Decay vs The Birth of Venus - Botticelli

Existence Is Futile

Front vs The Garden of Earthly Delights (detail) - Hieronymus Bosch

Back vs Saturn - Peter Paul Rubens

The Amazing World of Gumball

Logo vs Rainbow Islands: The Story of Bubble Bobble 2

At least that's my opinion.

The Terminator

Pulp Fiction

Dragon Ball Z

The Last of Us

Final Fantasy VII

Inverted Paradox on Game Child⁵

⁵An obvious nod to Game Boy.

Cloud Strife

The Legend of Zelda

Moon - Majora's Mask

Chest opening - The Wind Waker

Posters

Miss Impact - Ganbare Goemon 4 vs Tony Manero - Saturday Night Fever

Deadman in Justice League Dark vs Beetlejuice

This Giant Papier-Mâché Boulder Is Actually Really Heavy vs Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Five Nights at Freddy's 4 vs Boogeyman⁶ 

⁶ntbcw The Boogey Man (1980) or 1973 Stephen King short story The Boogeyman.

Spy vs Lethal Weapon 3

The Tripper vs Saw

Better Call Saul vs Us

Tales from the Crypt Presents: Bordello of Blood vs The Graduate

The Simpsons - Lisa's Substitute (S2 E19)

Battlegrounds vs Full Metal Jacket

Hogs of War

Until next time.