Companion Stars and Director Address the Thrilling Ending, Including a Last-Minute Change
The newest thriller, Companion, has taken audiences on a suspenseful ride, but the real magic happens at the ending. The film, which follows a couple on a weekend getaway with friends in a remote cabin, slowly unravels into chaos after one of the guests turns out to be a companion robot. As a result, the movie becomes a gradual bloodbath, with the companion robot being the last one standing.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, stars Jack Quaid, Sophie Thatcher, and director Drew Hancock delved into the ending, including a last-minute change that altered the fate of several characters.
Quaid described his character’s death as “cathartic,” while Thatcher reflected on the exhaustion of filming the intense scene, which was shot during the final hours of production. “It was the very last thing, so there was something very satisfying about it. But then also, naturally, I was so f—ing exhausted, and I think I had three [cans of] Celsius. It did feel kind of out of body. It added to the madness of it all,” Thatcher shared.
Hancock explained that the initial plan for one of the death scenes was altered, switching from a wine opener to a pocket knife. “When I got to the part where she needed to kill Josh, I was like, ‘F—, I’m not going to be able to top the wine cork thing. I was like, ‘Wait, what if I just switched it and just make [Sergey’s death] be a pocket knife?’ Switching that to a pocket knife was perfect — then Jack could be complicit in the planting of the knife, so it all worked out.”
This last-minute adjustment had a significant impact on the film’s narrative, making it work in hindsight. The electric wine opener, which is featured prominently throughout the movie, serves as a subtle foreshadowing of Josh’s death. This approach creates a satisfying conclusion for the toxic villain, adding to the film’s thrilling twist.
Companion will be released on January 31, 2025, and runs for 97 minutes. It is directed by Drew Hancock and written by him as well.
