Companion, the feature debut from writer-director Drew Hancock, is a wickedly funny dark comedy that is both hilariously funny and deeply unsettling. This isn’t your typical sci-fi thriller; it’s a scathing satire of modern dating, expertly blending the chilling eeriness of The Stepford Wives with the seductive danger of Ex Machina and the unsettling artificiality of Westworld.

The story opens innocently enough, with Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and Josh (Jack Quaid) meeting-cute in a grocery store before heading off to a lakeside weekend getaway with Josh’s friend group. Iris, with her retro-chic bangs a la Zoey Deschanel and earnest vulnerability, is an outsider among the sharp-tongued characters—until the reveal of her true nature: she’s an “emotional support robot” — or it you wanted to be cruder, a sex robot — designed to be the perfect partner to resident thirty something douchebag, Josh. This twist isn’t so much a plot shocker as it is a reframing of the entire dynamic between them, one that casts Iris’s doting demeanour and emotional devotion to her owner.

Naturally, the movie takes a wickedly sharp turn into a chaotic frenzy of tension, shocking violence and deliciously biting one-liners. The story hurtles forward at breakneck speed, gleefully dodging any pretensions of tackling big questions about AI ethics or misogyny. Instead, it leans all the way into its scandalous critique of how people crave partners who mirror their own desires

Thatcher does a fantastic job as Iris. She makes the character feel real and human, but you always remember that all isn’t quite as it seems. Quaid is also very good. He plays the part of the average incel loser masquerading as a nice guy perfectly. Rupert Friend is funny and slimy as the host, a Russian billionaire named Sergey, while Lucas Gage is once again brilliant as the devoted boyfriend of Josh’s best friend Eli (Harvey Guillén).

This wild ride of a movie throws you headfirst into a world where love is a download and your perfect partner might be a robot. While it stumbles a bit towards the end, getting a bit too sci-fi for its own good, Companion is a hilarious and thought-provoking thrill ride from start to finish.

Get ready for sharp wit, dark humour, and enough twists to make your head spin. This isn’t your grandma’s rom-com; Companion is a sexy, chaotic mess that will leave you questioning everything, especially your own relationships.

This movie is a mirror to the soul. It might just show you some things about yourself you’d rather not see.

See it now! You won’t regret it… probably.

REVIEW OVERVIEW
Companion
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Linda Marric
Linda Marric is a senior film critic and the newly appointed Reviews Editor for HeyUGuys. She has written extensively about film and TV over the last decade. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies from King's College London, she has worked in post-production on a number of film projects and other film related roles. She has a huge passion for intelligent Scifi movies and is never put off by the prospect of a romantic comedy. Favourite movie: Brazil.
companion-reviewGet ready for sharp wit, dark humour, and enough twists to make your head spin. This isn't your grandma's rom-com; Companion is a sexy, chaotic mess that will leave you questioning everything, especially your own relationships.