COMPANION

(director/writer: Drew Hancock; cinematographer: Eli Born; editors: Josh Ethier, Brett W. Bachman; music: Hrishikesh Hirway; cast: Sophie Thatcher (Iris), Harvey Guillen (Eli), Jack Quaid (Josh), Rupert Friend (Sergey), Lukas Gage Patrick), Megan Suri(Kat); Runtime: 97; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Zach Creggar, Roy Lee, J.D. Lifshitz, Josh Mack, Raphael Marguies; Warner Bros./New Line Cinema; 2025)

“Edgy sci-fi/thriller.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Drew Hancock excels in his feature film debut as writer/director of this edgy sci-fi/thriller. The plot revolves around a weekend getaway that goes violently amiss.

In the opening scene Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and Josh (Jack Quaid, son of Dennis) meet-cute in the supermarket. We fast-forward to when they are together with friends for a week-end vacation at a lakeside cabin in the woods. It turns out to be the luxury cabin of the shady and creepy wealthy Russian businessman Sergey (Rupert Friend). Also there are Josh’s friend Kat (Megan Suri) and the gay couple Eli (Harvey Guillen) and Patrick (Lukas Gage).

When Sergey assaults Iris, in self-defense she stabs him to death.

We then discover that Iris is a “companion” robot, and the cabin get-together is a scheme to rob Sergey’s safe where he stores his money.

Sophie Thatcher is amazingly good as she convincingly plays both a human and a robot. Quaid is good as the charming villain. Guillen and Gage are okay in their supporting roles, whose relationship is more complicated than first thought.

This is a B-film that gets all it can out of its sordid story, and its mordant humor is a bonus.

The film’s best line is voiced by Iris: “There have been two moments in my life when I was happiest. The first was the day I met Josh. And the second was the day I killed him.”

REVIEWED ON 1/26/2025  GRADE: A-
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