Horror fans excited forCompanionhave plenty of other horror movies to watch ahead of the new film. Written and directed by Drew Hancock,Companionstars 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 thetrailer forCompanionmight 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 onWestworld’s sci-fi themes played for dark comedy, audiences should check out these three other notable movies that share stars or creatives fromCompanion.
Barbarian
Cast
Barbarian follows a young woman who discovers her Airbnb has been double-booked with a stranger already present. Despite initial hesitation, she decides to stay, only to uncover disturbing secrets within the unsettling rental. The film, released in 2022, explores themes of trust and unease in unexpected encounters.
Companionshares a lot of the same creative DNA asBarbarian, 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.
BothBarbarianandCompanionshare a major creative backer in the form of Zach Cregger. Rising to prominence as part ofThe Whitest Kids U' Knowsketch comedy group, Cregger wrote and directedBarbarian. While he’s only a producer onCompanion, there’s a clear thematic connection between the films.Barbarianfocuses 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.Companionalso thrives on a similar sense of unexpected discovery, making them thematic companion pieces.
Heretic
Heretic, released in 2024, follows two young missionaries who must navigate a perilous test of faith when they encounter the sinister Mr. Reed after knocking on the wrong door, leading to a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse.
Sophie Thatcher stars inCompanion, but it’s far from her only experience in the horror genre. After appearing inThe ExorcistTV series as a young Regan MacNeil, Thatcher has appeared in several different horror projects likeThe Boogeyman,MaXXXine, andYellowjackets.One of her best performances was in 2024’sHeretic, 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 inHereticthan she does inCompanion, but both films benefit from her performance.Thatcher is able to imbue each of the two young women with an internal corethat undercuts their more stereotypical surface-level qualities. The two performances highlight why Thatcher has quickly become a modern horror star, withCompanionandHeretichighlighting her versatility as a performer in the genre.
Scream
Scream is a 2022 installment in the horror franchise, set 25 years after the original murders in Woodsboro. The film follows a new Ghostface killer who emerges to target a group of teenagers, bringing the town’s gruesome history back into the spotlight.
Screamwas 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’sScream, which brought back a number of returning characters from previous entries while also introducing a new cast of characters.This includesJack Quaid, who quickly acquainted himself well with the horror genre.The BoysandStar Trek: Lower Decksstar 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 duringScream, which allows him to shift between the two styles to impressive degree. Quaid is just as versatile inCompanion, with his performance anchoring many of the biggest twists of the movie. His performance inScreamis a great way to reaccquaint audiences with his skills ahead ofCompanion.
Companion
Companion is an upcoming psychological thriller crafted by writer-director Drew Hancock.
