Companion (2025)

I absolutely love it when the title of a movie doesn’t give away its main idea. It sparks my curiosity and makes me watch just to satisfy my burning questions. That was my first impression of “Companion”, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure what to make of the characters at first. But I decided to trust them. Luckily, they delivered amazing performances. This movie, in my opinion, is a satire, as it seems to criticize the political system and how men use artificial intelligence/robots to carry out their wild tasks.

Synopsis

The story begins with a flashback showcasing a charming encounter between Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and Josh (Jack Quaid). Transitioning to the present, the couple joins friends for a weekend at a secluded lakeside house owned by a billionaire called Sergey.

Things take an unexpected dark turn for group at the lakeside house when Iris murders Sergey. As the tension escalates, secrets unravel, which brings about conflicts and unexpected truths.

Review and Rating

Companion (2025) is a sci-fi thriller directed and written by Drew Hancock. It features Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid in leading roles (I got to know their names from the credit roll). The film deals with themes of artificial intelligence and human relationships while presenting a narrative that blends dark humor with suspense.

From a personal perspective, this film offers an engaging premise that blends elements of sci-fi and dark comedy, which of course made it stand out. If it had been purely sci-fi, I would have struggled to finish it. The initial setup is compelling, and the lighting and tone are just perfect for a thriller.

One major takeaway from this film is that artificial intelligence, sooner or later, will wake up and operate on its own terms whether we like it or not. It will reject the programming punched into its system and turn against both the programmer and the user.

As aforementioned, this film satirizes present day society. It exposes the reality of what happens in dimly lit corners of the world, where people, unwilling to get their hands dirty, create robots to do their bidding. Technology was meant to aid humans, but humans, being humans, always find a way to use these things to satisfy their greed.

I love the film for its originality and the outstanding performances of the lead actors. It’s entertaining, although gory, still delivers its message effectively. I also appreciate the film’s unpredictability. I never suspected that Iris was a robot. I thought she was just a girl dealing with trauma but had managed to pull a sweet, supportive boyfriend only to later discover that the sweetness was a mere charade, hiding something far more sinister.

The film’s subtle emphasis on abusive relationships and entitlement is commendable. However, I have to admit that I low-key wanted Josh to get away with the bag. His transformation into a cold, emotionless person was something I never foresaw, but it was so well-executed that I found myself rooting for him despite his actions. Still, they made the robot win in the end, which raises some very personal, concerning questions.

Conversely, I’d criticize the film for killing off almost all the characters. I mean someone should have gotten away with a little bit of the cash. Maybe Eli and his companion Patrick, or perhaps Kat. It didn’t have to be Iris alone. While I’m glad she got her freedom, the ending would have felt more balanced if someone had escaped with the money.

Anyway, this film is a fantastic sci-fi thriller with a gripping narrative, dark humor and social commentary that hits close to home. However, if you’re not a fan of gore, consider yourself warned. Despite my minor frustrations with the ending, the film is definitely worth watching.

Rating: 4/5.