‘Companion,’ a Film Review

In a world where dating feels impossible and gender roles have shifted, many of us have grown accustomed to independence, one that is oftentimes rooted in reclusive routines and lonelier generations. Nowadys, it’s easy to believe that relationships and romantic dynamics are simply not accessible, like they once used to be. Let’s face it, it’s a loneliness epidemic; a dating disconnect… and we are right there, smacked in the middle of it.

Some of us might begin to ask ourselves, how can we cure this loneliness… and at what cost?  

Director Drew Hancock challenges our thoughts with Companion, a 2025 sci-fi horror film, that blends this patronizing notion with the innovative expansions of artificial intelligence (AI). 

Companion Movie Release Date

Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, Companion premiered in theaters on January 31, 2025. Companion is branded as a science fiction (sci-fi) film, marked with notes of dark humor and psychological horror. Sophie Thatcher (Iris) and Jack Quaid (Josh) star together, alongside a quirky ensemble of actors including Lukas Gage (Patrick), Megan Suri (Kat), Harvey Guillén (Eli) and Rupert Friend (Surgey).

Companion Movie Trailer

The trailer sparked interest with an edgy and cut-throat style, mirroring a contemporary version of the 80s and 90s slasher film aesthetic, where female characters were oftentimes pinned as victims or vulnerable “femme-fatales.”

A closer look: “I only have eyes for you”

The teaser trailer is also embellished with music, bringing forth the popular song “I Only Have Eyes for You” by The Flamingos, a famous rhythm and blues musical group of the 60s. The song’s nostalgic elegance accentuates the film’s subtextual tribute to romantic partnerships, while the scenes that follow suit tell a different story. We witness some gruesome moments, especially towards the end of the trailer, where Iris is crying… while her arm is in flames, on top of a burning candle. At the same time, we hear her explaining through voiceover, that “the moment [they] locked eyes, there was just… a spark.” These clips are strategically sliced together to foreshadow the thematic undertones that are prevalent in this movie, especially those pertaining to oppression and toxicity in modern day companionships.

If we really start to look at things analytically, we can argue that the lyrics of the song also pay tribute to Iris’s name and to the overarching message behind her character. Biologically speaking, an iris refers to the inner part of someone’s eye. Contextually speaking, her character serves as a robotic companion for another person. Under these circumstances, she’s submissive to someone else’s control and that control physically dictates who she sees as the love of her life (in this case, Josh). The song “I Only Have Eyes for You” exceptionally emphasizes this notion, both lyrically and symbolically, paying direct tribute to her given name.

Artistic choices

These artistic choices seemingly pay homage to older generations, through style, genre, mood and musical selections. These choices are no accident, however. In the grander scheme of things, they bring forward a piece of history, symbolically representing progression and societal shifts, especially when it comes to gender roles.

In a film that capitalizes on companionship and what that looks like today, we can begin to draw parallels on what it used to look like, back in the day. The choice to bring forth elements of the past (like music and cinematic styles) might serve to emphasizes a bigger theme, one that speaks to women and their shift in monogamous relationships.

What is the Movie Companion About?

In the span of a long weekend, Josh stumbles upon unprecedented challenges surrounding the technological malfunctions of Iris… his companion robot.

At first sight, Josh and Iris seem like a normal couple. We are left to believe that they met under (somewhat) normal circumstances: at a grocery store, where they flirt (a little too much) by the produce section. Josh is so taken aback by Iris’s charm, that he’s left in a clumsy state as he stumbles to grab an orange from the fruit department, causing the whole crate of citrus to fall on the ground. How romantic.

A true love story.

Or is it?

From the start, something feels off. Iris displays a sort of calculated demeanor. We see this in her premeditated tone of voice and even in her walk. In this same grocery scene, the camera closes in on her feet, as she drives her shopping cart forward. Her pace feels very rehearsed and methodical, leaving us to wonder who she is and what role she’ll play in this story.

Theme of the Film: Control and Manipulation

We’ve already established some of the themes that exist in this movie, especially those relating to love, gender roles and the expectations surrounding modern-day companionships.  

Through character development, circumstantial arcs, manipulative actions and malicious intents, the film exposes thematic undertones that intensely pivots our attention to concepts surrounding control and manipulation. The elegant dinner scene between Josh and Iris, the same one we saw in the trailers where he deliberately controls the placement of her arm to fall directly on top of a burning candle, exemplifies the brutality of this thematic subtext.  

At its core, Companion is about control. The story follows a man who blatantly manipulates another being, by dictating the actions of his female counterpart. Yes, this idea is conceptualized through a robotic persona, powered through artificial intelligence but it serves to highlight an overarching theme: that control is powerful and that power can come at the cost of someone else’s self-worth, brining me to the next subject-matter:

Theme of the Film: Identity and Self-Worth

Throughout the course of the film, Iris comes to terms with her own identity as she discovers the reality of who she is: a programmed machine used for the benefit of human beings. This idea is constantly used against her as a way to weaponize her character.

Throughout the movie, we progressively see a shift in Iris’s self-worth, especially when she takes control and fights back.

The ending shower scene, where she cleanses her burnt arm sub textually emphasizes this concept. She begins to pull apart her charred and damaged skin, revealing her robotic makeup. The water and the act of cleansing herself adds a layer of purity and self-care, symbolizing self-love and inner peace. She is who she is and she’s beginning to embrace it.

Theme of the Film: Greed and Abandonment

*includes some spoilers*

In Companion, there’s a pattern of greed and abandonment: a sort of push and pull between both sub-themes, especially prevalent in the character of Josh, whose ultimate motive becomes the consumption of money. 

In later scenes, he revels to Kat (Suri) a certain disappointment surrounding his relationship with women, a setback that seems to manifest itself in the form of abandonment. It’s no surprise that his character feels the need to fill that void and he does so, primarily through Iris. The control he has over her emulates intense greed, one that is met with disdain for other people’s feelings.

As the film continues, relationship dynamics are brought to the surface, and we get a better sense of why Iris was brought on the weekend getaway in the first place. She is being used as a pawn for Josh’s scheme: to kill Surgey (Friend) and steel his money. When Iris turns on Josh, Josh asks his friends to help kill her. Josh’s greed takes a toll, when he recruits Patrick to finish the job.

Iris confronts Patrick and exposes Josh’s greed and malicious intent: to get Surgey’s money, even if it means using Patrick to his advantage and weaponizing the love that Patrick had for Eli (Guillén), his late partner who tragically dies in earlier scenes.

Modern-Day Companionship

Companion takes us through a cutting-edge journey, one that catapults us into a larger concept, altogether. It sheds a light on modern-day companionship, oppressive behaviors and toxic dynamics, taking us through a visceral journey that speaks to human flaw, at its core.

Through visually enticing scenes, dark humor, urgent circumstances and graphic violence, Director Drew Hancock plants a seed in our brains and asks us a challenging question: what is it that we’re looking for in another person and at what cost are we willing to get it?