Artificial Intelligence is no longer the wave of the future; it is the present. We can use AI for all sorts of things in our daily lives-recipes, emails to colleagues, and heck, I could even use AI to write this review for me (but that would be cheating, so I will do it the old-fashioned way). But what if we could find the ideal mate using flesh-covered robots and AI (think Terminator). Would it make life easier? Would it be ethical? What would be the downfalls of having a robot/AI boyfriend or girlfriend? Co-writer/director Drew Hancock offers us a possible glimpse of a world where robotic AI exists and can be utilized for almost anything and everything.
Josh (Jack Quaid; The Boys) and his girlfriend, Iris (Sophie Thatcher; Heretic) are planning to spend a weekend getaway with Josh's friends at his friend's, Kat (Megan Suri; Never Have I Ever), rich, married boyfriend's "cabin" in the woods. However, when the boyfriend tries to sexually abuse Iris, she kills him with the knife she found in her pocket. Uncertain about what to do, she runs into the house where Josh, Kat, and Eli (Harvey Guillén; Werewolves Within) decide to call the police. Iris, terrified of being separated from Josh, freaks out until she learns what is really going on...then she is furious.
To hear Hancock tell it, what outwardly seems like a thriller/mystery/horror film with comedic elements, is actually something else. In his mind, Companion is a relationship/breakup movie in which Iris finally acknowledges that she is in a toxic relationship with Josh and takes drastic measures to free herself from his hold on her. In a sense, it is a movie about empowering women disguised as a horror flick, and it is a testament to Hancock that Companion can be interpreted in so many different ways depending on the viewer.
The film also works so well because, besides the screenplay and Hancock's direction, there is a solid cast creating some great characters. Thatcher seamlessly transitions from a perky, sunshine-and-rainbows-dependent girlfriend to a robotic, independent, ruthless woman in the blink of an eye (literally). Quaid once again plays the sweet, kind boyfriend who isn't what he seems as you peel back the layers. Guillén offers some of the comic relief, while Suri is the perfect nonchalant friend who doesn't like Iris-but not for the reasons we think.
The scenic forest and mountains as the backdrop of Companion make for stunning visuals as well as a creepy background for a murder or two to happen. While this "cabin in the woods" isn't like the one in other horror/thriller movies, it serves its purpose by creating isolation that is perfect for the plot. The cinematography is beautiful and captivating during the moments we get to enjoy it, but it also serves as a plot point for the story that is integral to the movie.
The visuals are also well done, which is good because there is nothing worse than a horror movie that takes itself seriously (mostly) but creates the cheesiest and most horrible special effects.
With so many moving parts and twists and turns, Companion could fall apart but doesn't. It could drag and have inconsistent pacing, but it doesn't. It could be all gore and scares, but it isn't. There is a reason Hancock won the Director to Watch award at the Palm Springs Film Festival, and Companion is the reason why. It has all the necessary elements to keep the audience engaged while telling a story that keeps the audience guessing. This is master filmmaking at its best, and Hancock should accept all the accolades he is surely going to receive for this film.
Grade: B+
