Companion

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shatters expectations as a brilliantly executed narrative addresses thorny themes that will define human relationships in the burgeoning era of artificial intelligence and robotics. You'll literally laugh out loud as dark and incisive humor abounds in an intricate cat and mouse game that isn't nearly what it seems. There's much more than meets the eye in a gem that's the first must-see movie of the year.

Iris (Sophie Thatcher) blissfully remembers meeting Josh (Jack Quaid), the love of her life, in a textbook, romantic-comedy dream scenario. The pair laugh on their way to a remote lake house for a getaway weekend with Josh's friends. Iris has never felt accepted by Kat (Megan Suri), Josh's bestie, no matter how hard she tries. They pull up to a surprisingly palatial mansion. Josh tells Iris not to be nervous around Kat. She'll do just fine.

A snarky Kat introduces Josh and Iris to her wealthy Russian boyfriend, Sergey (Rupert Friend sporting a sweet mustache and mullet). They're also joined by a queer couple, Eli (Harvey Guillén) and Patrick (Lukas Gage), who are already drunk. Everyone marvels at the gorgeous surroundings as the partying begins in earnest. A hungover Josh doesn't feel like exploring nature the following morning. Iris decides to hit the lake by herself, but she's soon interrupted by an extremely arrogant interloper.

Writer and director Drew Hancock, known for his video segment work with Tenacious D, gets top marks in his feature debut. Her entire reason for existing is to make him happy. Iris also doesn't know her true nature. This lack of awareness is meant to bolster the fantasy of a thriving couple madly in love with each other.

It's important to note that Iris isn't a super-powered Terminator. Hancock draws inspiration and guidance from science fiction master Isaac Asimov's laws of robotics. She's neither stronger nor more capable than an actual woman. Her abilities can be tweaked, but Iris is constrained by programming that prevents harm to humankind. This is obviously where the plot goes awry, but her actions are quite believable and understandable.

Companion has juicy twists and turns aplenty, but we can discuss the film's philosophical objectives without ruining the glorious fun. Hancock depicts a scenario that's on humanity's doorstep. Those lonely hearts flirting with the ChatGPT AI will soon have a physical manifestation of their digital partner. This won't be a clunky C-3PO, but a machine tailor made with all the attributes of an ideal lover. Hancock pulls no punches on "f**k-bot" hedonism. People won't be buying these robots just to talk about their feelings, but where else does this level of intimacy lead?

Robots would need to feel as we do to sell the illusion of realism. Sensual and joyous emotions must be matched by pain, fear, and aggression. Otherwise, the experience would be as artificial as plastic skin. But this opens a whole other can of worms. A robotic slave can be subjugated to unceasing horrors. You'd get life in prison for torturing someone to death. Would a machine that experiences pain and sorrow be afforded any protection? There's a hilarious scene in the classic Office Space where the cast gleefully smashes an irksome copy machine. Imagine if that inkjet could scream... the deranged would take pleasure in that reaction.

No worries folks, deep thought isn't a necessity here. Companion blissfully entertains from start to finish. The plot is unpredictable and doesn't fall into the usual, mind-numbingly stupid genre tropes. The house in the woods setting is generic, but everything that takes place sure as heck isn't. It's refreshing to see a relatively low budget film take its subject matter seriously and with concise delivery. I could only find one consequential flaw in the script's logic, and it's by no means a deal-breaker.

The cast deserves credit for their fantastic ensemble chemistry. Thatcher and Quaid are front and center, but the supporting players each get their moment to shine. These are not one-note, cardboard characters who act mindlessly. The performances are nuanced and vary in intensity as the story progresses. Humor flips like a switch to ghastly terror when the s**t seriously hits the fan. I also thoroughly enjoyed Hancock's biting commentary on power and sexual dynamics in relationships. Couples will definitely get a kick out of the film's brutal honesty.

Companion is a production of New Line Cinema, BoulderLight Pictures, and Vertigo Entertainment. It will be released theatrically on January 31st from Warner Bros. Pictures.