By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
What begins as a sweet, romantic film turns into a wild thrill ride of bloodletting and comedy. “Companion” mixes science fiction with psychological thriller and then tops it off with some hilarious dark humor. Terrific acting led by solid direction elevates this well written screenplay, making for a highly entertaining experience.
Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and Josh (Jack Quaid) seem to be the perfect couple with a storybook romance. Setting off for a weekend getaway at a secluded lakeside estate, Iris is feeling nervous about trying to impress Josh’s judgmental friends. Little does she know that’s the least of her worries, because unbeknownst to her, she’s an AI powered robot whose sole purpose is to love Josh unconditionally.
When the billionaire estate owner Sergey (Rupert Friend) turns up dead, the weekend goes haywire, sending the group of friends into a panicked frenzy as they attempt to turn his murder to their advantage. There’s only one problem, Iris can’t lie. With survival and millions of dollars on the line, the group will stop at nothing to avoid criminal implications, even if that means turning on Josh’s companion.
“Companion” is the directorial debut of Drew Hancock, who also wrote the screenplay. He sculpts a pretty basic murder for money plot, but upgrades it with a smart, realistic sci-fi twist and a foundation of witty comedy that makes for a thrillingly funny watch. It falls somewhere between “Weird Science” and “Ex Machina,” not taking itself too seriously but grounded in reality. While it is fairly predictable, Hancock brings a sadistic sense of humor and sudden explosive violence that has the audience enjoying morbid laughs one moment and suspenseful thrills the next.
Once again, Sophie Thatcher displays outstanding acting talent in the lead role. Like she did in the horror film “Heretic” last year, she provides surprising depth to her character as an AI powered robot. She demonstrates subtle movement in her mannerisms and walk that resemble human but slightly different, which infuses believability in her performance. Thatcher completely sells her character’s obliviousness to being a robot, creating a plausible breaking moment when she learns the truth. Her emotional intensity provides a stirring portrayal that gives her character life, allowing viewers to connect and be invested in her. Sophie is an actress to watch, once again proving she’s more than capable to excel in starring roles.
Thatcher’s co-star Jack Quaid holds his own in a role that plays to his talents. The son of Dennis Quaid and star of TV’s “The Boys,” brings that initial romantic, innocent look only to devolve into something more diabolical, all while holding that condescending grin on his smug face. The misogynistic attitude and healthy ego he brings to this character makes him an antagonist the audience will enjoy disliking. Like he’s done in “The Boys,” he also incorporates that almost clumsy, awkward humor that will earn some laughs. Look for Quaid’s big year to continue as he will next be starring in the action/comedy “Novocaine,” which will be released in March.
The supporting cast is a bit weaker with Lukas Gage (“Smile 2”), Megan Suri (“Missing”), and Rupert Friend (“Homeland”) offering nothing more than their one-dimensional characters. In fact, Rupert, who is a British actor, supplied a very generic Russian accent and dialect that’s reminiscent of someone mimicking a bad guy from a 1980’s B action movie. However, Harvey Guillén of TV’s “What We Do in the Shadows” fame provides some additional comic relief with well-timed line delivery that makes his performance a bit more memorable than the others.
If there was a monthly award for Best Picture, this would easily win it for January. “Companion” is devilishly enjoyable with a macabre sense of humor. With the increasing exploration into artificial intelligence, this is a timely AI inspired slasher with a plausibility that gives it a “Black Mirror” vibe. Grab a friend and go see this on the big screen, you’ll undoubtedly have a great time.
This movie earns:
