The discussion of A.I. has been ongoing for years, and it’s certainly been a subject for many forms of art over the years. Just take a look at the Terminator films, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and countless others. While most of those films look at how A.I. can turn on its human counterparts in the evilest ways, Companion takes a different approach that is clever and welcoming.
Buy Companion 4K UHDDirected by Drew Hancock, the film has a nice ’50s-era style to it – evoking an I Love Lucy approach with a twist of Black Mirror thrown in. Josh (Jack Quaid) has a meet-cute moment with Iris (Sophie Thatcher) that evolves into a blossoming romance. Or so it seems. Iris has all the makings of an attractive woman, with one caveat. She is actually a robot companion. Josh is aware of this, as he is the one who was clear on his intentions when he purchased her. His friends are aware of this, too, but it doesn’t seem to bother them too much.
What’s supposed to be a fun weekend getaway turns into something more, as Iris – and, yes, there’s a Goo Goo Dolls needle drop within – starts to uncover more about her supposed history and the relationship she and Josh have. Things take an unexpected and violent turn as the movie progresses, and it’s best to leave it at that without getting into too much detail.
What makes Companion so compelling is Thatcher’s convincing performance as Iris – a robot who thinks she’s more. The A.I. presentations in many previous features have come across as robotic and emotionless. Here, we get the robotic aspect, but one that appears to have a mind of its own and can be convincingly emotive.
Hancock crafts an intriguing and mysterious thriller that seems to just scratch the surface level on the ongoing discussion of A.I. and the effects it has on human society – especially on the lonely men that are out there in the world. There are segments where it touches on how this progressing technology does more harm than good, but it gets to where it’s about to explore it in more depth before splashing the screen with blood.
Companion is a clever addition to the “A.I. gone awry” genre, and it’s refreshing to see one that can balance thriller and dark humor so well. Despite the missed opportunities to go deeper into the conversation, this is still a well-crafted and smartly written film with great performances from Thatcher and Quaid and enough twists and turns to keep the viewer actively engaged.
The 4K UHD only comes with a few featurettes that explore the behind-the-scenes element of the movie, but the picture and sound transfer capture the beautiful scenery and compelling score quite well. This one is certainly worth a pick-up for those interested in A.I. thrillers and seeing the career of Thatcher and Dennis Quaid’s son continue to take off.
