"Companion" (2025) Review

I genuinely thought this was going to be a rip-off of M3GAN. No joke, when I first saw this trailer I thought: “O God, they’re knocking-off M3GAN already!” Now, were I the more-evolved being I aspire to be everyday, I would’ve stopped and considered: “Well, I thought that movie was a ‘Chucky’ rip-off… but it actually surprised me!”

But, because I am the educated-jackass that I am today, I snootily turned-up my nose at it and Poo-Poo’ed it as hard as I could. Then, suddenly, out of pure morbid curiosity, I actually sat down and watched the 97 minute film… and that movie really did surprise me!

Brief Synopsis:

Companion tells the tale of a seemingly ordinary young woman named Iris, who takes a romantic weekend-getaway with her boyfriend, Josh, to one of his friend’s remote “mountain cabin.” (please imagine the air-quotes, I am extremely jealous of this cabin)

But all the good times soon sour when Iris discovers, to her horror, that she is, in fact, an android programmed to love and satisfy Josh for the rest of her potentially immortal existence…

Oh yeah! And she killed a sleazy r@pist…

wait, what???!!...

See, the biggest issue I have with the marketing campaign of this movie, is that, like so many others in modern horror, they giveaway what is potentially the coolest “ big twist."

Now, it is not the ONLY important twist to the story - trust me, there’s actually quite a few that make the movie so much fun… even if they are predictable - but it’s clear from my initial viewing that this was supposed to be the first in one hell of a “corkscrew” roller coaster ride.. ha ha! (If you know, then you know)

It’s a marketing decision that I personally think is rather poor, but is currently so nuanced we just don’t have time to get into this go around.

Anyway, going back to the original point: yes, our “murderous gynoid” is not actually so murderous, after all.

The Review:

Clearly designed to be a topical story in the year of our Lord, 2025, Companion is essentially a spiritual successor to Ira Levin’s controversial “The Stepford Wives,” a little-understood satire about a bunch of lazy, selfish, self-important men who would rather f*ck a robot then make their lives work with a living, flesh-and-blood partner. A partner who has needs, and wants, and a self outside of their husbands… but is willing to love them and make them happy for the rest of their existences…

Do not be surprised if this sounds like an overly-harsh, if not honest, critique on the toxic-patriarchy… I mean, Iris’ boyfriend, Josh!... the actual “mastermind” behind the film’s gory body-count (and yes, I use the term ‘mastermind’ extremely loosely here).

Josh is exactly the kind of person you would expect to go out and get a robotic-girlfriend: constantly shirking responsibility for his own actions, while simultaneously, insisting upon his own goodness despite mounting evidence to the contrary. His character feels like the living embodiment of everything we all collectively HATE about toxic-patriarchy and toxic-masculinity! (and yes, I use the term ‘Toxic-Patriarchy’ for a reason, but that’s a long story for a different day).

Writer and director, Drew Hancock, clearly has some strong thoughts on the current discourse surrounding modern day feminism and women’s rights - when so many “bad actors” (pun intended) want society to revert back to a time when women were treated like something between slaves and cattle (something my own father vehemently warned me against trusting). Because, ultimately, that’s what Iris is prior to her moment of self-realization: slavery made manifest in the form of nuts-and-bolts, living only for the satisfaction of her “boyfriend” and his every whim… not allowed, or even expected, to consider her own wants, needs, desires, autonomy. Because, dear reader, it’s clear to all but Josh by the 30 minute-marker that the technology which created Iris - and other Companions like her - are capable of graduating to complete sentience.

To quote our boy, Sir Michael Kane: “The cocoon has burst - the butterfly emerged!”

But even as we, the viewers sympathize and even empathize with Iris’ cold-splash of reality, Josh, her as$-hole boyfriend, makes it clear that he can’t help but belittle and devalue her… “It’s all just programming!” as he says.

And because of this sense of blatant entitlement, we, the viewers, are suddenly thrust into the real meat-and-potatoes of this interesting take of modern sci-fi horror: can love truly exist in a space of subjugation?

The Conclusion:

In my opinion audiences of all will enjoy 2025’s Companion. It offers a sleek and picturesque take on now-centuries old questions regarding love, autonomy, mixed with our constantly changing technological landscape. Though it may be a slightly predictable (and male-oriented) retelling of Galatea coming to Life, this movie still offers a stellar cast, glorious shooting, and a thoughtful modern-day backdrop on which to meditate over, long after the credits roll.

The moments of pulse-pounding shock and (surprising) moments of heart are nothing to snooze at either!

Awarding this flick a solid 8/10, I look forward to my next interlude with Companion (2025).

-6/18/2025