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Review: Companion

Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid endure a brutal break-up in the hilarious, violent, and clever Companion.

Sophie Thatcher plays Iris, while Jack Quaid is Josh. The couple head to the remote but opulent lake house of a wealthy acquaintance along with some other friends, but things go violently awry. After the mysterious first teaser trailer, the marketing revealed the central premise, but spoilers if you haven’t seen the movie and want to go in fresh. Iris is actually a robotic “companion” (i.e., sexbot), and she kills the group’s host in what first seems like self-defense but becomes increasingly more complicated as other characters’ motives are revealed. Once the reveal of Iris’s true nature occurs, the movie does a great job playing with all the different aspects of her programming and functions, like being able to switch languages (used in a hilarious scene when a police officer confronts Iris) and changing the tone and timber of her voice. Iris isn’t a Terminator, but the movie finds many clever ways for Iris and the other characters to use the various settings and functions to help or hinder their goals. That goes with the stellar performance of Thatcher, who has been great in most of the projects she’s been in recently, like last year’s Heretic. She can portray the whole gamut of Iris’s journey, from her original docile and compliant personality to her increasing independence, self-awareness, and drive to survive. She’s also great with the comedic beats and the physical aspects. We’ve seen her character arc before with her becoming self-aware and independent and getting out of an abusive relationship, but Thatcher keeps it interesting and entertaining. Jack Quaid is also great, weaponizing his nice guy energy and becoming more unhinged as the movie progresses. Lukas Gage, Megan Suri, and Harvey Guillen are all great in their supporting roles, although Suri doesn’t get as much to do compared to the rest of the cast. Although only in it briefly, Rupert Friend is hilarious as the group’s mysterious Russian host, laying on a thick accent and seemingly having a ton of fun.

Along with the cleverness and humor, Companion also has some gnarly kills and gore for horror fans, including a particularly brutal and memorable kill with an automatic wine opener. It’s not a movie of big elaborate set pieces, but what’s there is fun and brutal, and the film balances both a violent, darker tone and a goofier, more humorous tone. The way the plot unravels and slowly goes out of control with hits of bloody violence has Coen Brothers vibes mixed with all the clever sci-fi elements.

Companion is a wildly entertaining blend of sci-fi, horror, and dark comedy, driven by sharp writing, inventive set pieces, and standout performances—making it a must-watch for genre fans.

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