Review of the Film Companion (2025): A Superficial Fantasy About the Future of Technology
Companion is a sci-fi thriller featuring my favorite actor, Jack Quaid. It explores the familiar theme of a robot designed to do everything for humans. So far, the film has received a 6.9 rating from over 105,000 IMDb users—a surprisingly high number for a relatively average production. It has also earned 84% audience approval on Google, indicating a more favorable public reception.
At the time of writing, only four months have passed since the film’s release. Such a high level of engagement on IMDb is rare and likely the result of strong marketing, because the film itself is fairly ordinary. Compared to Novocaine, Companion ranks significantly lower. Directed and written by Drew Hancock—previously known more for screenwriting—the film was co-produced with Zach Cregger, an American comedian, writer, and director best known for Barbarian (2022) and his comedy group.
⚠️ Spoiler Alert: The following contains plot details.
The story follows a robot named Iris who travels with her boyfriend Josh to a remote cabin. After a violent incident, Iris discovers she’s a robot whose emotions and intelligence can be controlled via an app. It’s revealed that Josh hacked her system to exploit her abilities for his own purposes. Iris attempts to escape, but instead of leaning into suspense or action, the film shifts toward drama and tragedy—portrayed in a way that feels unconvincing and unrefined. The comedic tone overshadows the serious elements.
Despite its initial popularity and heavy promotion, the film has received negative criticism. Many reviewers argue that it relies on familiar sci-fi and AI tropes without offering anything new. While the film touches on themes like mind control and AI autonomy, critics say these ideas are explored only superficially.
Some feel the film is confused about its genre—oscillating between sci-fi, horror, and comedy—and fails to strike a meaningful balance. The characters, especially Iris and Josh, lack depth and believability, which weakens the emotional impact of key scenes. The ending has also been criticized as abrupt and incoherent, leaving viewers with a sense of incompleteness.
Sci-fi films have the potential to simulate not just futuristic technology but also the psychological and ethical dilemmas humanity may face. Companion falls short in this regard. Instead of immersing viewers in a thoughtful simulation, it distracts them with misplaced humor and underdeveloped emotional arcs.
🎬 Conclusion Sci-fi succeeds when it doesn’t just “show the future,” but also simulates difficult decisions. Companion could have been far more powerful had it embraced this intellectual dimension more fully.