Whereas doing my finest to completely keep away from spoilers for the brand new horror movie Companion, I can say this: Josh, the character performed by Jack Quaid, will not be a very good dude. You may be distracted by splashes of goofy attraction, however if you see previous that façade after the film’s first act, you acknowledge a nasty controlling facet of his character and an outsized expectation that the world owes him one thing. It’s a terrific character, and one that’s significantly attention-grabbing to have a look at because it compares to Quaid’s different huge villain function within the style: Richie Kirsch in 2022’s Scream.
Earlier this week, I had the prospect to interview the actor on the Los Angeles press day for Companion, and I requested about how he compares and contrasts Josh together with his model of Ghostface – particularly pointing to their shared entitlement (the previous in his relationship with ladies, and the latter in his relationship with the fictional Stab film franchise). Jack Quaid acknowledged the by line, however famous {that a} standout distinction between the 2 components is an extension of viewers notion:
They’re type of lower from the identical fabric, however the distinction for me is all the time like… Effectively by way of the way you reveal them, Josh is the antagonist all through the course of your entire film. And also you roughly know that. Richie, you save that each one to the top, and he very a lot desires to be a Scream, or I suppose Stab killer. He desires to be this like campy dude strolling round with a knife and terrorizing individuals. That is what he desires.
We be taught within the closing act of Scream that Richie is a full-blown psychopath craven for blood and violence as a way to feed his ego… however Josh in Companion is an antagonist of a unique type. As acknowledged by Josh Quaid, we perceive that he’s not the hero comparatively early within the movie, however the dividing line is a constant inward view of himself as a sufferer.
Quaid added {that a} worse model of Companion would have consumed this angle, story roles reversed with Sophie Thatcher’s Iris, however he loves the take from author/director Drew Hancock:
However Josh, what I discovered so fascinating about taking part in him is that he is a villain that does not know he is the villain. And I believe the very best villains are that means. I believe a lesser model of this film would’ve been Josh because the protagonist, and Iris is on a rampage and he is bought to cease her and no. I am so pleased that we flipped it on its head.
Based mostly on the actor’s feedback, it will appear that not less than a few of that happiness extends from his shared recognition with the movie that Josh is a rubbish particular person. Quaid instructed me that it was truly a battle for him tune into his terrible combine of hysteria and self-righteousness, however he discovered his means in by way of a facet of the character’s backstory that he outlined for himself. Stated the actor,
He is essentially the most insecure character I’ve ever performed in my life, and the most important problem was discovering empathy for him. And I believe I did that simply by realizing in the future I used to be like, ‘Oh, Josh has by no means heard the phrases “I like you” in his life.’ And I believe that motivates each despicable act that he commits on this.
Furthering his level, I famous that past his romance with Iris, there may be positively one thing unrequited in his relationship with Megan Suri’s Kat, and Quaid acknowledged that it’s part of the combination as nicely. And now that he has a ways from the half, he has a agency message to ship to the character:
There’s one thing there. There’s quite a bit beneath the floor with him. And I like that about A) the script and simply attending to play that character. I believed it was so, so attention-grabbing. And now, now that I am not taking part in him and I haven’t got to search out empathy for him, screw Josh!
Sufficiently intrigued? You’ll be capable of take pleasure in Companion and all of its superb secrets and techniques this weekend because the movie arrives in theaters in all places. Along with the aforementioned Jack Quaid, Sophie Thatcher and Megan Suri, the film additionally stars Lukas Gage, Harvey Guillén and Rupert Buddy, and as I word in my four-star assessment for CinemaBlend, it’s an incredible mixture of thrills and laughs. When you see it, make sure you head again right here to the positioning for extra from my interviews with the film’s stars and author/director.