Companion (2025) and Toxic Transactional Relationships: Social Exchange Theory

The 2025 sci-fi thriller Companion, directed by Drew Hancock, has been widely interpreted as a critique of toxic masculinity, particularly in its portrayal of male entitlement, control, and gender dynamics. However, this paper argues that the film is better understood as an exploration of transactional relationships rather than solely a critique of patriarchal structures. By applying Social Exchange Theory (SET) (Homans, 1958; Blau, 1964), we can reframe Companion as a study of mutual manipulation and the commodification of intimacy in modern relationships. This analysis examines how the characters of both Josh and Kat engage in exploitative behaviors for personal gain, reflecting broader social patterns of relational dependency, power imbalances, and self-interest.