Companion is a grounded slice of science fiction. For writer-director Drew Hancock, it’s a relationship film first, a horror sci-fi film second. Hancock wanted to paint a bloody, unpretty picture of a bad relationship between Josh (Jack Quaid) and his companion, Iris (Sophie Thatcher), during a weekend getaway gone wrong – or, depending on which audience member you ask, gone right.

Hancock clearly has his fun with crowdgoers’ expectations, delivering a story which – as the director has noted in the past – takes a few cues from the works of the Coen Brothers. In other words, keep people guessing with bloodshed and laughs. The Zach Cregger-produced film aims to please with elements of surprise.

Recently, Hancock spoke with Daily Dead about crafting the story, how Iris evolves over the course of the film, and why a Goo Goo Dolls’ song carries a lot of weight in his feature directorial debut.