yes, you should watch 'companion'. here's why:
- Binge God
- Feb 11
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 hours ago
Going into Companion (2025), I expected a darkly comedic and uniquely twisted survival thriller with a sinister, almost dystopian edge—just based on the trailers. After watching it in theatres, I’m happy to say it delivers exactly that.
Companion is an engaging, surprising ride that blends tension, humour, romance and thrills into an exciting, memorable experience.
At its core, Companion is a survival thriller, but what sets it apart is its unique perspective (told from the POV of a robot who doesn’t know she’s a robot) and its thought-provoking themes.
At a time when AI and robotics dominate headlines, the story feels very timely, making its themes even more compelling. ‘Companion’ cleverly uses romance to humanise the robotic protagonist, making her more relatable & sympathetic to the audience.
It also challenges viewers to compare the human characters to their robotic counterparts, raising questions about what it truly means to be 'human'—and who, in this story, embodies it more. The result is an engaging, emotionally resonant thriller that holds your attention from start to finish, delivering a satisfying and thought-provoking experience.
Companion thrives on strong, thought-provoking ideas, but it’s the performances that truly bring them to life—especially Sophie Thatcher as ‘Iris.’ As the lead, Thatcher sets the film’s emotional tone, bringing Iris to life with a mix of vulnerability and naivety that makes her one of the most human and relatable characters in the story. She quickly becomes the character audiences are most eager to support.
In contrast, Jack Quaid delivers an understatedly sinister performance, gradually building on this element of the performance until it peaks in the film’s gripping third act. While Thatcher’s Iris challenges the notion of what it means to be a ‘robot,’ Quaid’s Jack forces viewers to question whether being human is the same as having humanity.
Beyond its compelling performances, Companion is a film general audiences will find easy to enjoy. Its blend of dark humour, timely storytelling, and constant twists keeps viewers engaged from start to finish. While there are a few gory and violent moments, they never last for too long, so even more squeamish viewers should be able to handle them.
For those who like to dig deeper, the film also weaves in some subtle gender-based commentary, particularly on society’s attitudes toward women. It’s never heavy-handed, but if you enjoy analysing movies after the credits roll, you’ll likely find plenty to unpack in Companion’s underlying themes.
With its unique and timely story, strong performances, thought-provoking themes, and sharp dark humour, Companion stands out as a memorable, high-quality survival thriller.
While it’s absolutely worth watching, it doesn’t necessarily demand a big-screen experience—so if you prefer to wait for streaming, you won’t be missing out. Just be sure to watch it, because this is one thriller that deserves your time.
Zach Cregger initially eyed Companion as his directorial follow-up to Barbarian (2022), though the team wound up setting the project as the directorial debut of Drew Hancock.
Sophie Thatcher can cry from one eye at a time on command
The song "Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls is played during a scene in the film; Jack Quaid's mother, Meg Ryan, starred in City of Angels (1998) for which this song was written.
Comments