"Companion," directed by Drew Hancock, was released in theaters on Jan. 31. This thrilling sci-fi film is full of plot twists and robots. It stars Sophie Thatcher as Iris and Jack Quaid as Josh. Their intense scenes together are exciting and suspenseful.
"Companion" follows a couple who goes away for the weekend at a secluded lake house. Iris goes to this lake house with Josh to meet up with his friends. This mysterious weekend soon becomes a bloodbath between Iris and Josh’s friends. Iris turns out to be this subservient robot built for human companionship. She possesses real human emotions but is there primarily to do what Josh says, which takes a turn for the worse.
Highs
The acting of Thatcher as Iris is impressive. She shows genuine human-like emotions while she is a robot. Her character development is incredible; she is this shy girlfriend who turns into a brave woman willing to do anything for her freedom. Thatcher’s portrayal is suspenseful, and she does everything she can to be expected as all she ever wanted was to love Josh, but it turned into a betrayal as she was seen as just an object. The moment she figures out she is a robot is an intense scene with strong emotions of betrayal and heartbreak.
Quaid's acting as Josh is full of manipulation and done well. He wants to be in control of everything. He is the true villain in this film and it does not fail to capture his arrogance. His character is full of plot twists. He seems like a loving boyfriend when, in reality, he is selfish and manipulative.
The thrilling aspect mixed with sci-fi is captured well. It is a unique plot that captures the truth behind AI's power. The plot is a highlight; it is suspenseful and keeps the audience on their toes. The film contains this intense killing spree as Iris tries to escape this world of hell.
The dark humor portrayed in the film is a highlight. The scenes that captured the meet-cute between Iris and Josh were hilarious. They showed her meeting this man in the store who dropped all these oranges, creating this humorous sensation. The interactions between Josh and Iris became more intense, which led to these dark, witty comments. Josh's insecurities gave the film a dark humor aspect.
The friends in "Companion" have a mixture of different personalities. Kat (Megan Suri) is portrayed as a toxic friend who is selfish and malicious. Patrick (Lukas Gage) is the loving boyfriend of Eli (Harvey Guillen). Their relationship is humorous due to the scene of their meet-cute, which gives the movie a lighter aspect.
Lows
"Companion" has minimal lows, considering how unique it is from other thrillers. The main low is Josh's motives. He is a toxic man who will do anything to gain control. He has no remorseful emotions. He wants to destroy Iris. The other low is the lack of information on why Josh resents the world. Kat's portrayal in the film is also lacking. She is involved in this toxic plan, but her motives are unclear.
The film's tone can be questionable at times, considering how much it goes from exhilarating to comedic. This might confuse the audience and cause them to fail to comprehend the dark, humorous elements of the film.
Verdict
"Companion" is worth watching because it is intriguing and suspenseful throughout. The characters' acting is on point and compelling, adding to the intensity of the plot and scenes.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Mariam Fakhreddine is a film and theater reviewer for The Eastern Echo. She has worked as a news and features reporter for The Echo for two years.
