Companion (2025)

Release Date: January 31, 2025
Director: Drew Hancock
Starring: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, Rupert Friend

Let me set the scene: It’s Friday night, and I’m doing what any self-respecting movie fan does—knocking back a few beers, grabbing some popcorn, and rolling into the cinema with no idea what I just bought a ticket for. Seriously, I went in blind. All I knew was that the poster looked cool, and that was enough for me. In an era where trailers show you 90% of the movie, this was my way of rebelling. No expectations. No spoilers. Just vibes.

Little did I know, I was about to get my mind blown.

What’s the Premise?

The movie kicks off with Thatcher (who I first saw in Heretic) playing Iris, a woman who, in the opening scene, casually mentions that she met the love of her life in a grocery store. Cute, right? Except, plot twist: she also killed him. Yeah. Bold move, movie. No suspense, just straight-up telling us she offed her boyfriend.

From there, we see Iris and her new boyfriend Josh (Jack Quaid) heading off to a beautiful, secluded, luxury cabin with his friends. Because nothing says romantic getaway like being surrounded by people who clearly don’t like you. Right off the bat, they’re giving her the side-eye, and you just know they’re thinking, “This chick? Really?” But hey, it’s a horror-thriller, so unwelcoming friend groups are basically a requirement at this point.

And then—BAM. Halfway through the movie, we get the twist.

SHE. IS. A. ROBOT.

Bruh. I almost choked on my beer. I had NO idea that was coming. This is what happens when you don’t watch trailers, folks. You get to experience genuine shock in the year 2024.

The Big Reveal and Its Aftermath

The signs were there, though. Looking back, you can see little hints that something’s off about Iris. The biggest one? After an intense sex scene, Josh just rolls over and tells her to shut up. No post-romance cuddles. No "Was it good for you?" Just straight-up, "Shut the f*ck up." That’s not normal human behavior. That’s sociopath behavior. Or, in this case, “I know you’re a robot and I don’t want to hear your pre-programmed pillow talk” behavior.

From that point on, the movie shifts gears from psychological thriller to Westworld meets Ex Machina, with Iris slowly realizing that she’s not actually human. Josh, on the other hand, is an absolute tool. Turns out he and his friends had plansfor Iris, and let’s just say they weren’t planning on throwing her a birthday party.

At this point, I was rooting for Iris HARD. You ever watch a movie where you just want the main guy to get wrecked? That’s Josh. He’s manipulative, selfish, and just so damn greedy. My dude was planning to use Iris for his own gain, and I was counting down the minutes until she turned the tables on him.

Performances: The Good, The Bad, and the Robot

Sophie Thatcher? Killing it. I first saw her in Yellowjackets, and she’s got this cool, understated intensity that works perfectly for a role like this. Her slow realization that she’s not human is handled with just the right amount of eerie calm and mounting horror. She carries the movie, no question.

Jack Quaid? He does a solid job making you hate him. I mean, really hate him. The moment he reveals he’s been gaslighting Iris into thinking she’s human just so he can use her for his own benefit? Peak villainy. If he was slightly more likable, maybe we’d feel bad for him. But nope. Screw that guy.

Then there’s the supporting cast: Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, and Rupert Friend. They all do their thing, but let’s be real—this is the Thatcher and Quaid show. Everyone else is mostly there to react to the insanity unfolding around them.

Direction and Execution: Looks Good, Feels Familiar

Visually, Companion is stunning. The cinematography captures the eeriness of the secluded cabin, the beauty of the wilderness, and the increasing tension between the characters. The contrast between the peaceful setting and the psychological horror unfolding inside is chef’s kiss.

That being said, the AI-robot-discovering-their-humanity trope is starting to feel a little played out. Ex Machina, M3GAN, After Yang, Westworld... we’ve been here before. The movie still works, but the second you realize Iris is an AI, you kinda know where this is heading. There’s only so many ways this story can go, and while Companion does it well, it doesn’t necessarily reinvent the wheel.

A Few (Unintentional) Highlights

• The Monkey trailer before the movie? Yeah, I’m watching that. Looked absolutely bonkers.

• The sheer audacity of Josh rolling over post-sex and treating Iris like a malfunctioning Alexa. Wild.

• The fact that I watched this movie tipsy and STILL picked up on the foreshadowing. Either I’m a genius, or the hints were too obvious. (I choose to believe I’m a genius.)

The Verdict: A Solid Watch, but AI Fatigue is Real

Look, Companion is a solid movie. It’s well-acted, well-shot, and has a genuinely surprising twist (if you, like me, didn’t watch the trailer). But at the end of the day, the AI-human-existential-crisis movie is becoming its own subgenre, and it’s starting to feel a little been there, done that.

That being said, I had a good time. The performances are strong, the pacing is solid, and the cinematography makes it a feast for the eyes. It might not break new ground, but it’s still an engaging watch.

Would I recommend it? Yeah, for sure. Just maybe don’t go in expecting something revolutionary. And maybe watch it before Monkey drops, because I have a feeling that movie’s gonna steal the spotlight.

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (7/10)

Until next time, keep your beers cold, your popcorn buttered, and your expectations reasonable. Cheers! 🍻