When I saw the trailer for the new horror comedy Companion, I felt it showed too much. I saw the movie had to do with a woman who was a robot. This is the kind of reveal that would have been interesting to see on the big screen first. After seeing the movie though, there were plenty of surprises throughout, that the trailer reveal was not a big deal after all. This was a movie that had a lot to say and knew the story it wanted to tell.
The Plot
Iris and Josh are a seemingly happy couple who are on their way to visit their friends for a weekend getaway. Things go haywire when tragedy strikes and Iris finds out she is actually a subservient android.
This movie was a lot of fun and one of the best horror movies to come out in recent memory. The story keeps you entertained from beginning to end with its clever writing and natural flow. It’s an android vs human movie that leaves you heavily rooting for the android.
What the story does well is never let you truly know which direction it is going in. Every time the audience senses what might be going on, the movie keeps us guessing. This is a world where people are aware of companion robots. Robots that will always love you and do everything you want whenever you want it.
We already rely so much on technology and there is a clear theme here stating that by relying so much on these inanimate objects, we become the robot. There is also a smart message about relationships. There are so many people these days who don’t put in effort. The movie speaks on the dangers of wanting a convenient relationship rather than a healthy one.
The Performances
Sophie Thatcher(Heretic, Yellowjackets) plays Iris and she is incredible. She can say so much with just her eyes. She gives such a vulnerable raw performance where while still appearing as a badass. It’s early in the year and I can already say this will probably end up being one of my favorite horror performances of the year. Sophie is quickly becoming an amazing scream queen and I can’t wait to see what she does next. This is a role that could come off so wooden easily and she truly gives it her all.
Jack Quaid(Scream 5, The Boys) is very good as Josh. Josh is Iris’ boyfriend and he goes from being likable to damn right disgusting, pathetic, and manipulative. Jack is another star who I have become interested in everything he does because he just has such a presence. He is also very good at playing jerks.
The rest of the cast holds their own and the script gives them all something important to do. Everyone is well developed and we get a clear understanding of what everyone wants.
Overall
Companion has some things we have seen before but they are done extremely well here. It’s a horror comedy that can be pretty creepy at times and pretty funny at other times. The movie has really strong lead performances and a stellar supporting cast. It makes you think without being preachy. The film delivers suspenseful elements while simultaneously dealing with human connection and wanting control. The film is entirely clever and a definite must-watch of 2025 already. If other horror movies are as good as this one, we are in for a pleasant year.
