“Companion” (2025) Review
Director: Drew Hancock Screenwriter: Drew Hancock Cast: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, Harvey Guillén, Rupert Friend Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures Running Time: 97 min. MPAA: R
Sometimes the right attitude can carry a picture through its old paths with renewed vigor. This is very much the case with Companion, a film that initially relies on its big twist and then mostly rides out the end with a tongue firmly in cheek. While a strong thematic component remains at the intersection of identity, relationships, and technology, the visceral shock makes the bloody fallout more of a wild romp than a one-message gimmick that could easily be dismissed as a lukewarm Black Mirror episode.
The uncertainty sets in quickly for the insecure Iris (Sophie Thatcher). We know that she’s reluctant to attend a cabin vacation with her lover Josh’s (Jack Quaid) friends. We know that she has fond feelings for Josh that make her willing to endure judgmental eyes from friends, including Patrick (Lukas Gage), Kat (Megan Suri), Eli (Harvey Guillén), and especially the mysterious Russian, Sergey (Rupert Friend). We also learn she exists in a world of self-driving cars and electric corkscrews. Something is off, and it becomes clear the longer that Iris stays, that it has to do with romantic bonds that are not entirely genuine.
The twist, however, is more compelling due to the clues that are more thematic than tangible. The ultimate reveal is both early and abrupt, highlighting the greater complications of being deceived by those who exploit technology for their gain. This leads to Iris going through an existential crisis amid a fight for survival, with Thatcher being thrust into a down-and-dirty quest to flee her attackers. She’s also given much more to do beyond run through the woods, keep quiet, and occasionally slit some throats. When dealing with tech-savvy aggressors, she’ll need to be smart enough to overcome the limitations she faces. Thankfully, her criminal pursuers are not as adept with their scheme, and it’s rather hilarious watching them stumble around in baffled anger at a situation they can’t control.
On the surface, this seems like a typical horror scenario with a dollop of sci-fi, but it manages to be more compelling because it doesn’t treat its cybernetic component as either a mere adornment or a cudgel. Rarely does the film divert from its conflicting relationships for a milquetoast rant on the nature of abused technology or the meaning of life. At its core is a movie about a toxic relationship and how a firm level of awareness is key to escaping it, a narrative worth more weight in the conflict beyond the contemplation of whether or not AI should exist. It’s also just fun to watch Thatcher and Quaid cavort in a darkly hilarious film without trying too hard for a joke.
Companion uses science fiction in a clever way to merge with horrific, toxic relationships. The blending of intelligent deception and vicious existential terror among eccentric characters prevents the film from being too simplistic in its gimmick or falling into a platitude about our relationships being shaped by technology. There’s no shortage of horror trying to harp on our reliance on computers, but few seem to know where to go with the material besides slapping on some wires and tech terms like a bad ’90s ad about email. There’s a firm enough grasp on the material here that director Drew Hancock can effectively utilize the setting as a tool for horror rather than a philosophical crutch on the dangers of tactile obsession. The obsession with our desires is far more compelling than how much we use a tablet; that train of terror has already left the station, and it’s now a question of what we’ll do with such advancements, where no amount of software upgrades can fix an abusive romantic partner.
