I went into the cinema to watch the thriller ‘Companion’ without any knowledge about the film. I didn’t watch a trailer. I didn’t read any notes or reviews. All I know was that it was marketed as “from the creators of Barbarian,” which is one of my favourite films of 2022. ‘Barbarian’ was written and directed by Zach Cregger and he produced ‘Companion,’ which is directed and written by Drew Hancock. The film is a creepy thriller that is a refreshing take of the genre of films populated by films like ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ and ‘Blink Twice.’ Watching the trailer now that I’ve seen the movie, it’s safe for me to say that the film involves the power struggle between a woman and a man but is further complicated by the commodification of AI and the human form.
Sophie Thatcher is incredible as Iris, a woman who is going out of town for the weekend with her boyfriend Josh (Jack Quaid). They are going to a secluded mansion in the woods to spend a weekend with Josh’s friends. There she meets Eli (Harvey Guillen) and his boyfriend Patrick (Lukas Gage), Kat (Megan Suri), and her partner Sergey (Rupert Friend). Iris is not comfortable in that crowd, her attachment to Josh seems weak and laughable to Kat, and it triggers her anxiety and discomfort. But things turn chaotic and murderous when Iris inadvertently discovers that she is a companion robot and that Josh is not the man she thought he was.
Much like the uneven ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ and the brilliant ‘Blink Twice,’ ‘Companion’ explores how women are manipulated and controlled by men. But unlike both movies, ‘Companion’ finds its own voice by being whimsical, funny, irreverent, and takes pleasure in giving space for the woman in question – here, represented by a robot – to find her revenge. Unlike the other two movies mentioned that focuses on the depravity of the men who do these things and the imperative of women to fight for their freedom, ‘Companion’ is more geared towards entertaining us with the thoughts of getting back at the people who did this to her.
It is riding a wave of a political discourse that is fighting oppression with the same fire that has fueled the oppressors. This has the same tone as the eat-the-rich films that have sprouted in the past few years, but this film has set its sights on the men who abuse and dominate women. In this sense, the film feels related to even the recent MMFF film ‘Uninvited’ with the way that it stirs the audiences and gets them to cheer for Iris when she takes the reigns and fights back. The way that Hancock has maneuvered his plot, and his character development allows the audience to actually cheer when the tables are turned and the robot finds their power to enact their vengeance.
And that’s really the power of comedy to use humor to allow us to embrace darker themes and ideas. By making us laugh, we lower our guard and allow us to cheer for what is essential murder but allowing us to justify it by focusing on the heinous actions of the perpetrator. We leave the cinema entertained but the film has planted that seed that we will think harshly of anyone who will be caught doing these acts in real life. Hopefully, not murder, but we will take it seriously.
Thatcher is incredibly arresting as Iris. The nuance of her performance becomes even more apparent as we see her at the point of discovery that her life is a lie. Every look, every reaction is connected to her character being a sentient robot. The other stand out here is Guillen, whose comedic timing is pitch perfect.
Surprising at every turn. If you like bloody gore, violence, and female-driven movies, ‘Companion’ is the film to watch and it’s best to not see the trailer coming in. It’s best to be surprised.
My Rating:
Companion is now showing in cinemas. Check showtimes and buy your tickets here.
