Companion, starring Sophie Thatcher as a sexy robot going rogue, taps into the world's technology anxieties

Given that our daily lives, love, and even political leadership are influenced by a handful of tech companies, it's not hard to imagine those in power manipulating our memories—those already elusive guardians of history. This forms the core of a new thriller titled "Companion," which explores the potential for technology to control human memory.

"Companion" tells the story of a weekend getaway that turns deadly when a compliant robot develops self-awareness. Directed by Drew Hancock and starring Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid, Megan Suri, Lukas Gage, Harvey Guillén, and Rupert Friend, the film is set to release in theaters on January 30th. This movie may leave you feeling both amused and entertained, and perhaps even with some other thoughts to consider.

The film opens with the protagonist, Iris (Sophie Thatcher), reminiscing about her first encounter with her boyfriend, Josh (Jack Quaid), a memory so perfect it seems unreal. In the flashback, Iris has an exaggerated, doll-like face and a retro 60s style, contrasting sharply with the ordinary Josh. Yet, in this "straight male fantasy," she miraculously notices him. In reality, Iris is a robot designed to be a male companion, her memories customized to fit Josh's idea of a perfect relationship.

In the present, Iris and Josh travel to a luxurious lakeside villa in upstate New York for a weekend with several other successful young friends. These include Eli (Harvey Guillén) and his model boyfriend Patrick (Lukas Gage), as well as the fashionable and sharp Kate (Megan Suri) and her older, wealthy boyfriend Sergei (Rupert Friend). When Sergei asks Iris to massage sunscreen onto him, Iris suddenly becomes violent. "Go to sleep," Josh commands her, and her eyes flip to a creepy white screensaver.

The film's marketing relies on its few twisty plot points. Iris states at the beginning of the film (and in the trailer): "The two happiest moments of my life were the day I met Josh and the day I killed him." This effectively frames events from a technological perspective, turning the movie into an origin story of robotic liberation. While this might sound like the latest attempt by Big Tech to get audiences to sympathize with AI, it's really just the latest in a long line of films exploring the nature of technological existence, such as "Blade Runner," "M3GAN," and "The Creator."

Sophie Thatcher's Iris is a significant addition to the robot club, whether she's walking barefoot and bloodied through the woods or rebelliously hacking into her system, increasing her intelligence from the 40% set by Josh to maximum. The film has some fun twists, thrills, and plenty of satire, evoking a "Get Out"-style "Stepford Wives." The producers of "Companion" also made the 2022 horror film "Barbarian," and if you've seen that, you'll have a general idea of the tone: an intriguing beginning that devolves into something more ordinary but still possesses a gritty, B-movie charm.

As a sci-fi film, its content is fairly familiar; Hancock isn't too interested in pushing the technological possibilities he envisions or delving deeply into its implications for the future. But as a metaphor for domestic abuse and the many ways men attempt to control women, "Companion" is crude but effective, sometimes even confrontational in its imagery. Despite the film's cloak of "feminism" hiding much brutality and violence, it's still entertaining and carries a mischievous edge. It may not restore your faith in humanity, but it might make you feel some sympathy for our replacements.