Artificial intelligence is all around us, and movies about artificial intelligence have been around even longer than the technology itself — going back as far as the 1927 film Metropolis. But as AI evolves, our storytelling about it changes, too. While you’re pursuing HBO and Max this month, Watch With Us recommends checking out Companion, a hilarious horror comedy that invites us to see things from an AI’s point of view.
Companion is about Iris (Sophie Thatcher, Yellowjackets), a young woman who is besotted with her boyfriend Josh (Jack Quaid, The Boys) but a bit nervous about going on vacation with his friends. A few minutes into the movie, however, Iris learns that she is a companion robot from a company called Empathix, programmed to love Josh. When Josh sets Iris up to take the fall for a crime he forced her to commit, Iris seeks a way to gain control over her own programming. It’s a story about betrayal, love and control — wrapped in a bloody, robot-filled package.
Here’s why you should stream this smart, scary and thought-provoking movie.
It’s Scary, but Not Too Scary
A man kisses the neck of a woman in ‘Companion.’ Warner Bros.
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I’m not a horror movie person. I don’t seek out blood and gore, I hate jump scares and I still think about “The Tethered” from Jordan Peele’s Us and get chills at random moments. Psychological horror freaks me out too — I don’t usually want to think about the dark depths of the human soul. Life is scary enough!
But now and then, a horror movie —usually a horror comedy — breaks through and makes me think more about what the story means than how grossed out I am. Companion is one of those movies. Despite my trepidation, I was encouraged to watch it by a friend, and I’m so glad I did.
There’s violence and gore, but Iris is such a compelling protagonist that I found myself focusing on her journey toward self-actualization instead of the number of people she stabbed (there are a few).
The comedic performances in Companion also soften the more violent moments. Quaid is hilariously loathsome as Josh, a stereotypical “nice guy” who seethes with entitlement. Harvey Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows) and Lukas Gage (You, The White Lotus) are hilarious as another couple on the trip. (Their relationship dynamic is fascinating. I won’t spoil it by saying more.)
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Overall, the storytelling in Companion is strong enough to overpower the scariness — and coming from this writer, that’s saying something.
The AI Metaphor Is Multi-Layered
Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid in ‘Companion.’ Warner Bros. Pictures
Positioning Iris as the protagonist, and making her believe she’s human for the first few minutes, does something really interesting for the narrative — it frames her as the “real person” in the story and Josh as the malevolent force. Yes, Iris is a robot, but she’s also a woman, and the story serves as a metaphor for the way women are often diminished or even dehumanized in relationships.
Josh can control Iris’ level of intelligence via an app, modeling her to his exact preferences and specifications. Iris is so eager to please him that when she first learns the truth, she just wants to return to their happy relationship. “I can make you so, so happy,” she pleads.
Who among us hasn’t contorted themselves to try to be “perfect” for a significant other? Iris’ plight is eerily familiar to anyone who’s felt a partner pulling away and wondered if they could’ve been better. It’s a remarkably human sensation.
Iris also remembers having a perfect meet-cute with Josh, which is typically a hallmark of rom-coms like Notting Hill. This detail is a clever commentary on how pop culture romantic narratives shape many women’s identities and how easy it is to define oneself around a relationship.
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Her status as a robot provides rich metaphorical territory when it comes to how abusive men seek to control and manipulate women — while still considering themselves the hero of the story.
You Won’t See the Twists Coming
Iris’ status as a companion is a surprise to her, but it’s inherent to the movie’s premise, so it’s not exactly a surprise to the viewer. But the story is full of unexpected turns, many of which genuinely shocked me.
Though it didn’t get quite as much online hype as M3GAN, another viral AI movie that has a sequel coming at the end of June, Companion is a sharp, funny and ultimately moving story about a woman — or, fine, a machine — seeking autonomy in a world that wants to take it from her.
