It’s always fun when movies mix different genres together. That’s how we get gems like horror-comedies and action-science fiction flicks. A new movie, titled Companion blends elements of horror, sci-fi, and romance into a rather unique experience. Let’s take a look at if this intriguing new film is worth any attention.
Some spoilers for Companion are below.
The Good
The story of the film serves as one big metaphor for toxic relationships and how men treat women in them, and it handles it all spectacularly. It’s clever without any of the message feeling too hidden or up for debate. The way that the character of Iris is treated and spoken to by Josh speaks volumes. Even the way that Kat speaks to her early on showcases how toxicity causes women to see themselves when a toxic man has gotten in their head. It’s a powerful message that makes the movie that much more intriguing.
An area where this film shines is with the early build-up and foreshadowing. There are so many organic hints to Iris being a robot during the early scenes, and many of them work with their themes of toxicity so incredibly well. The first few scenes may feel a tad slow, but the pay-off that occurs after the initial reveal throughout the rest of the story is absolutely worth it. Plus, just about everything shown or used early on comes back by the end of the movie in some sort of meaningful way.
The tone throughout the film is also balanced masterfully. There’s a delightfully twisted sense of humor used throughout to keep things upbeat, but it never takes away from scarier, darker, or more brutal scenes. It’s funny at the right parts and suspenseful when it needs to be. It creates a unique atmosphere which really allows the movie to stand out.
The performances from every actor here are exceptional, with Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid being the stand-out stars. Every character feels lifelike enough to pull audiences in and allow them to feel immersed in the story more. It also helps the audience care for them (well the ones who deserve it). Quaid’s character may be antagonistic, but he gives a chilling performance with a character that feels very real.
The film is rather well-shot. The woodsy landscapes in the background are gorgeous, and the house that serves as the primary setting is almost just as nice to look at. The way each shot is framed, angled, and lit perfectly captures the tone in a way that funnier scenes feel humorous and darker ones feel more serious without the two ever feeling like they don’t mesh. The directing and cinematography here do a fantastic job at guiding the emotions felt by the audience.
The Bad
There’s a point during the climax of the movie when the Empathix workers are taking Iris back to the lab. They mention to each other that they know Josh is guilty, but they also tell Josh they have everything recorded. Why on Earth would they tell him that? Everything would have been resolved and they would have safely gotten away if they didn’t reveal they had evidence of his guilt. There’s no way they’re that dumb.
During the early scenes, before Iris finds out she’s a robot, one of the hints that she is one is that she thanks the car’s A.I. and demands Josh do the same. However, if she doesn’t know she’s a robot, why would she be so adamant about thanking the car? Could it be more of a “subconscious” thing with her, or was it an idea left over from a previous version of the script?
While the early scenes set up a lot for the rest of the movie, and the rest of the movie serves as exciting pay off for it, some folks may feel that the beginning is a little slow, that it takes a bit of a while to really get going. While I do think this intentional pacing is worth it for the build-up and payoff, it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see some complain about the beginning feeling slow.
Conclusion
Companion is a unique film that successfully seeks to prove an important point while also providing a truly fun moviegoing experience. It’s funny, scary, suspenseful, and thought-provoking all in one movie. Definitely see this on the big screen if you get the chance.
Rating: 9/10
Nonstop Nerd 