Horror fans excited for Companion have plenty of other horror movies to watch ahead of the new film. Written and directed by Drew Hancock, Companion stars Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, and Rupert Friend as a group of friends who take a holiday weekend at a remote house in the woods. However, an unexpected death quickly spirals into a fully chaotic situation, with the film taking plenty of unexpected twists and turns.
While the trailer for Companion might give away some of the elements of the film that are better left unsaid, the movie’s mix of horror and comedy ends up delivering on the concept. It’s a dark movie that builds on previous concepts, but one that also retains a sense of humor and humanity throughout. Ahead of seeing the twisted take on Westworld‘s sci-fi themes played for dark comedy, audiences should check out these three other notable movies that share stars or creatives from Companion.
3
Barbarian (2022)
Directed By Zach Cregger
Companion shares a lot of the same creative DNA as Barbarian, making it a must-watch ahead of the new Sophie Thatcher-led horror film. Both movies thrive on a sense of surprise, with plenty of major twists baked into their bloody narratives. Both movies play on execptations in unique ways, approaching the horror genre with a surprising amount of heart and comedy. Both films also take a grim view on a certain sub-section of men, highlighting their flaws against a horrific backdrop.
Both Barbarian and Companion share a major creative backer in the form of Zach Cregger. Rising to prominence as part of The Whitest Kids U’ Know sketch comedy group, Cregger wrote and directed Barbarian. While he’s only a producer on Companion, there’s a clear thematic connection between the films. Barbarian focuses on a man and a woman who end up at the same rental house, with the tension spirling into a very different kind of horror movie than audiences initally expect. Companion also thrives on a similar sense of unexpected discovery, making them thematic companion pieces.
2
Heretic (2024)
Directed By Scott Beck and Bryan Woods
Sophie Thatcher stars in Companion, but it’s far from her only experience in the horror genre. After appearing in The Exorcist TV series as a young Regan MacNeil, Thatcher has appeared in several different horror projects like The Boogeyman, MaXXXine, and Yellowjackets. One of her best performances was in 2024’s Heretic, where she plays Sister Barnes. The film centers around two Mormon missionaries, Sister Barnes and her best friend Sister Paxton, as they are lured into the home of the outwardly charming but quietly unnerving Mr. Reed.
Thatcher plays a very different type of character in Heretic than she does in Companion, but both films benefit from her performance. Thatcher is able to imbue each of the two young women with an internal core that undercuts their more stereotypical surface-level qualities. The two performances highlight why Thatcher has quickly become a modern horror star, with Companion and Heretic highlighting her versatility as a performer in the genre.
1
Scream (2022)
Directed By Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett
Scream was the fifth film in the long-running slasher franchise, which has always thrived on aiming a meta-aware lense at the horror genre. This extends to 2022’s Scream, which brought back a number of returning characters from previous entries while also introducing a new cast of characters. This includes Jack Quaid, who quickly acquainted himself well with the horror genre. The Boys and Star Trek: Lower Decks star appears in the film as Richie Kirsch, the boyfriend to Sam Carpenter.
Quaid’s versatility as a performer makes him uniquely gifted as self-aware horror, as he’s able to play both the sympathetic hero and the devilish villain whenever a story calls upon him. This skill-set is present during Scream, which allows him to shift between the two styles to impressive degree. Quaid is just as versatile in Companion, with his performance anchoring many of the biggest twists of the movie. His performance in Scream is a great way to reaccquaint audiences with his skills ahead of Companion.
