The topic of AI has particularly sprung up in the last 2-3 years. With the emergence of tools such as ChatGPT, AI has been used as a way for human culture to increase knowledge, but also potentially become lazy, using AI as a way of cheating, or taking a shortcut. Whilst AI has been an omnipresent theme in cinema, with greats such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Blade Runner, and The Terminator all having their variations on the theme, Companion feels as if it is one of the first of this new era of artificial intelligence becoming a bigger part of human life.
Yet, Companion neither swings in favour of, or against AI. The film opens with a meet-cute between Josh, a bumbling twenty-something in a supermarket, who meets his companion Iris, who is intellectual and calculated. Their meeting is love at first sight, with Josh projecting Iris as a manic pixie dream girl type, dressed for a large chunk of the movie in a strawberry milkshake pink. However, Iris narrates the scene, stating “There were two moments in my life when I was happiest. The first was the day I met Josh, and the second, the day I killed him”. This is the thesis statement of the film, showing the decline of their romance.
Years into their relationship, the couple are heading to an extravagant lodge in the woods, on the corner of existence for a weekend stay with Josh’s friends, one of which is dating a wealthy Russian, whose fortune comes from dirty money. As they arrive, however, a part of Iris feels dissatisfied. Saying “Something inside of me is holding me back”, meanwhile Josh uses her transactionally for sex. We soon discover Iris is actually a companion, to do whatever Josh wants to – in essence a sexbot. However, as Iris gains power, she begins to enact her revenge.
Whilst it is early in the year, I would be shocked if we have many films as surprising and fun as Companion. A horror/slasher with heavy rom-com notes. The film feels similar to that of the 2018 film Game Night. It’s a group of friends gathering together when something goes wrong. It’s full of fun dynamics with a great central performance from Sophie Thatcher as the AI sexbot we side with.
There are a couple of twists and turns along the way, although they are not too shocking, but at a runtime of 1hr 40, it flies by. Full of laugh-out-loud moments it is a crowd-pleasing thriller, that isn’t that scary, but that won’t detract from the enjoyment, whilst making it more universally accessible. It also has some interesting, if already trodden, themes about AI Ethics, similar to that of Blade Runner especially, and has a homage to Terminator: Judgement Day. But it is also a journey of identity and finding your purpose. All topped off with the perfect Goo Goo Dolls needle drop.
Companion is hardly a horror film. There are a few gory moments, but nothing that will make you jump out of your seat. But, nevertheless, it is a great time of fun, thrill, and laughs which lay out a light-hearted playground to discuss the themes of AI ethics, what it means to be human, finding purpose and what happens when AI is put in the wrong hands.
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