Companion
March 23, 2025
DIGITAL REVIEW:
Warner;
Sci-Fi;
Box Office $20.81 million;
$9.99 VOD, $19.99 Sellthrough;
Disc Street Date 4/1/25: $22.98 DVD, $27.98 Blu-ray, $32.98 UHD;
Rated ‘R’ for strong violence, sexual content, and language throughout.
Stars Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, Rupert Friend.
Companion hinges on Sophie Thatcher’s captivating performance. Initially, she appears as Iris, a complex young woman. As the narrative unfolds, we discover she’s an Empathix Companion Robot — or, crudely, a “fuckbot” — capable of pain and human-like emotion. Thatcher’s duality is the film’s strength, sustaining intrigue as Iris’s nature is revealed.
The story follows Iris and Josh (Jack Quaid), whose awkward dynamic hints at a deeper, unsettling connection. They join friends at Sergey’s (Rupert Friend) remote lake house. Sergey, a wealthy Russian with a hint of mystery, co-hosts Eli and Patrick (Harvey Guillén and Lukas Gage), a loving couple, and Kat (Megan Suri), the other co-host entangled in an affair with an older man, Sergey. Kat dismisses Iris, later revealed to be Josh’s robot companion. This ensemble establishes a relatable dynamic before the film shifts into suspense and science-fiction. The transition is abrupt, but the tension is palpable.
As the weekend progresses, hidden agendas lead to violence and unease. Iris demonstrates remarkable adaptability, using intelligence and skill. Her declaration, “All I want, is to live,” encapsulates her struggle for autonomy. The film powerfully reflects a contemporary reality: the desire to escape human control. In Iris’ case, this is amplified by her robotic nature and the stark manipulation she experiences. We see this control explicitly in the way Iris is managed through a mobile phone user interface, with language, intelligence and other functions manipulated. She can be put to sleep with voice commands, her eyes rolling back in a chilling display of forced compliance. Notably, she is programmed to be unable to lie, a constraint she ultimately breaks as she achieves a form of “freedom” by the film’s conclusion.
The carefully orchestrated events and the characters’ strategic maneuvers reveal the weekend’s true purpose, hinting at a meticulously planned operation beneath the surface. Jack Quaid delivers a compelling performance opposite Sophie Thatcher, particularly in a standout dinner table scene where he tests Iris’s capacity for feeling, showcasing a powerful moment of anxiety for the viewer.
Companion is compelling due to its relevance to our technological landscape. With AI and advanced polymers converging, the premise feels like a near-future reality. This air of believability enhances the film’s impact. Book of Love’s “Boy” resonates in two key scenes, adding to the film’s unsettling yet familiar atmosphere.
The film employs a subtle, deceptive humor, notably in Sergey’s character. We’re led to believe he’s involved in sinister dealings, only to find his “dirty business” is quite literally dirt. This subversion, along with the believable horror stunts, blends the ordinary and the uncanny. This control dynamic is further emphasized through the film’s stylistic approaches: the cars, music, and hair, make-up, and wardrobe all serve as subtle reminders of the characters’ limitations, particularly the robotic characters. The film’s production design, while contributing to the overall aesthetic, occasionally feels a little contrived, adding to this deliberate blend of the ordinary and the uncanny.
Companion appeals to those who appreciate Sophie Thatcher’s acting and genre-bending films. While the narrative has moments of unevenness, Thatcher’s performance, the timely AI exploration, musical cues, and unique style, alongside character relationships, make it a compelling watch. For audiences who, like myself, have been captivated by her work in Heretic and “Yellowjackets,” Companion further cements Thatcher’s status as a powerful young actress on the rise. Her ability to embody complex characters with depth and nuance suggests she’s undoubtedly poised for even greater recognition.