20/03/2025

LYFE THURSDAY | MAR 20, 2025

25

0 Cast: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Rupert Friend 0 Director: Drew Hancock

TV SHOW REVIEW

E-VALUE

8

ACTING

7

PLOT

5

Quaid’s Josh (left) could be a parody of lonely modern men. – PIC FROM WARNER BROS PICTURES

Twisted Companion o Quaid, Thatcher star in techno-dark comedy with romantic elements

Ű BY MARK MATHEN VICTOR

F ILM studios still seem happy with handing off the final cut of their movies to trailer houses that love to spoil twists that would be best enjoyed by watching the film. Unfortunately, Companion is a victim of this. Against an almost diabetic, sappy love song, Companion opens with Iris (Sophie Thatcher) recalling the moment she first met the love of her life Josh (Jack Quaid) in a supermarket. She claims she was happiest during two moments in her life. As he fumbles his first words to her before triggering an avalanche of oranges from a counter, Iris says the first was when she met Josh and the second was when she killed him. It is the perfect setup to a dark comedy with shades of romance. Eventually, the couple arrives at a remote cabin for a gathering with friends that would go

technologically awry. This film should be watched without knowing its twists beforehand. Drew Hancock’s Companion only reveals its big surprise around 30 minutes into the film, which means Warner Bros Pictures threw the filmmaker and his movie under the bus by disclosing the twist in marketing content. That said, the film is still entertaining as Thatcher continues to make her mark as a “scream queen”, with her role in Companion vaguely similar to last year’s Heretic . Her role in this film is meatier, as

she has to embody the duality that Iris requires. Similarly, Quaid is also good, as he continues to pick film roles playing a scumbag – as though to balance his goody two-shoes character in The Boys , which he is more known for. Without spoiling anything, the film’s central premise involves technology but Companion does not have much to say about the morality of what it presents to the audience. It has brief moments of extreme unease, such as when one of Josh’s acquaintances,

Sergey – played by Rupert Friend with an intentionally bad Russian accent – forces himself on Iris and she fights back. There are other moments similar to this, like Josh’s uncomfortable incel rant about being a “nice guy”, his relationship and views of women and so on, but Companion quickly glosses over these in exchange for bursts of comedy and/or violence. Unfortunately, there is nothing to Companion ’s exoskeleton beyond a layer of skin made of the lead performances and humour. Companion is available on Prime Video.

Late singer’s final tracks to be released on Record Store Day

The British singer, actress and model is known for a long and storied musical career dating back to the 60s.

Ű BY R.BALA

February but it is aptly now part of the Record Store Day exclusives. The EP is Faithfull’s first release since the album She Walks in Beauty with Warren Ellis, released in 2021. Faithfull’s son Nicholas Dunbar said in a statement: “As we grieve (her) loss, we are pleased to announce the release of these songs which she worked on during the year before her death. (She) lived to create and perform music – it was her driving force and she never stopped. Right up until the end, she was looking forward to this release which now completes and celebrates her remarkable artistic career.” Record Store Day was conceived in 2007 as an annual event to help independent music stores face the challenges of the digital era. Artistes and record labels announce exclusive limited edition vinyl pressings with the aim of getting punters to visit and support local neighbourhood music emporiums.

A four track EP by the late singer Marianne Faithfull joins an exclusive list of releases for Record Store Day on April 12. Titled Burning Moonlight , the tracks were inspired by Faithfull’s first two solo albums. The eponymous debut was more pop-oriented while Come My Way is a folkier reflection of her artistic persona. Incredibly, both LPs were released on the same day on April 15, 1965 – quite a brave commercial move, even back then. Side one contains the title track as well as Love Is , which showcases her pop sensibilities. Side two of the EP contains a rendition of a traditional folk song Three Kinsmen Bold alongside a new version of a Faithfull staple She Moved Thru the Fair . Faithful passed on at the age of 78 on Jan 30, which led to the delay in the EP’s release. It had been slated to drop in

Faithfull’s final record is a reflection of her past work. – PICS FROM FACEBOOK @MARIANNEFAITHFULL