Companion Review: This Thrilling Entertainer Will Keep You Hooked, Spoilers Be Damned

These days, it’s quite uncommon to experience a movie without being inundated by its promotional material. However, I managed to sidestep much of the marketing for Companion. While I was aware of its overall vibe, I remained blissfully ignorant of its actual premise—a fact I take some pride in. This film embodies the quintessential Premise movie, often leaning heavily on its plot revelations as a marketing strategy, viewing spoilers as its greatest foe. For a point of reference, consider last year’s Abigail, a film that hinged its appeal on a major twist, lamented by audiences for revealing too much in its trailers.

The good news is that Companion is largely spoiler-proof. Initially, it presents itself as a mystery-driven Premise movie, yet it playfully hints at the truth almost immediately, creating an atmosphere that feels both intriguing and comical. Much like Knives Out, it quickly unveils key elements, allowing viewers to journey with the characters instead of merely trailing behind. If you prefer to avoid any insights, feel free to stop reading here—best of luck dodging the details until its release. However, as someone whose own theories turned out correct, I can confidently say that some foreknowledge enhances the experience.

Companion Skirts the Pitfall of Overly Clever Plotting

It’s a Thriller, But Prepare for More Laughs than Screams

The story centers on Iris (Sophie Thatcher), who is infatuated with Josh (Jack Quaid). Their romance kicks off during a grocery store meet-cute, which Iris refers to in voiceover as one of her two life-changing moments—the other being the day she “killed”him. The narrative jumps to a time when the still-living Josh takes Iris to a remote lakehouse, where he spends the weekend with his friends, including Kat (Megan Suri) and her shady Russian lover, Sergey (Rupert Friend), along with Eli (Harvey Guillén) and his partner Patrick (Lukas Gage), who provides an insight into their luxurious getaway.

Unbeknownst to Iris, everyone else is aware of her true nature: she is a robot companion designed to deliver an AI-enhanced girlfriend experience—offering all the joys of companionship without the complications that come with human autonomy. Iris is depicted as benign, docile, fully customizable, and incapable of deception. However, when she unexpectedly commits an act of violence that should be beyond her programming, chaos ensues.

In December, prior to the teaser launch, Jack Quaid urged viewers to avoid watching the film’s next trailer if they had already decided to watch it. Unfortunately, the January trailer revealed the essence of Iris as an artificial entity.

I won’t delve deeply into the plot beyond this point, but it’s essential to note that the film thrives on “how”events unfold rather than “what”happens. Writer-director Drew Hancock doesn’t conceal much from the audience (or even the characters) for an extended period. He sets the stage for where the film is heading, encouraging viewers to focus on how it will engage with themes or how the characters will react. Companion aims to astonish yet shows no desire to outsmart the audience.

This concept feels refreshingly unique, offering a familiar yet elusive narrative. It draws elements from contemporary cinema but resists being easily categorized alongside films like Ready or Not, The Menu, Promising Young Woman, M3GAN, and Barbarian. While trailers hint at horror, Companion reveals itself more as a comedic thriller with sci-fi nuances. Its primary objective is entertainment, and it knows how to deliver it.

The Performances of Sophie Thatcher & Jack Quaid Establish the Film’s Tone

Companion Shines When It Embraces its Comedic Elements

Josh seated across a bloodied Iris, who is tied to her chair, in Companion

The acting performances play a crucial role in achieving this light-hearted yet thrilling experience, and I found the cast enjoyable throughout. Sophie Thatcher’s portrayal of Iris is noteworthy, successfully conveying genuine emotional depth. Far from being a cold, calculating robot, Iris is a love-driven companion whose feelings genuinely resonate. Through the unfolding chaos, her affection for Josh remains evident, making her portrayal feel authentic and relatable.

Jack Quaid serves as the cornerstone of Companion’s tone. Much like the clever casting against the “Nice Guy”trope in Promising Young Woman, Quaid embodies Josh with a relatable charm and humor, albeit with a hint of loser-ish qualities. It’s immediately apparent that the predicament he finds himself in is far beyond his control. Hancock hinges the film’s progression on this performance; a comedic approach creates a light-hearted tone, while a serious tack casts a darker shadow over the entire narrative.

A close-up of Josh with a dark expression on his face in Companion

I personally found that Companion functions best when it navigates the lighter aspects of its narrative. While the film does explore themes relevant to a “rogue sex robot”story, Hancock opts to let these ideas simmer subtly in the background, enhancing the narrative flavor without dominating the storyline. Regardless of one’s perspective on these themes, it’s undeniable that socially aware, metaphor-driven horror-comedies have gained substantial traction recently. The choice to present Companion as a film operating at around 40% cognitive engagement feels intentional.

As someone intrigued by trauma-infused monsters in cinema, I wouldn’t mind seeing more films like this—capable of being both enlightening and enjoyable without drenching itself in self-awareness.

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