A movie to see with a ‘Companion’

BY HANNAH BROOKS

Multimedia Journalist

The season of love is here, and with that comes the release of the new movie “Companion.”

Released on Jan. 31 of this year, it’s already taken the main stage with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 94% and an audience score of 91%.

“Companion” is a psychological thriller with hints of sci-fi, horror and comedy, all while moonlighting as a romance film.

The collective audience review is that it’s clever, witty and shocking.

It’s set in the present day with the dystopian aspect of android companions that are both subservient and completely human-like.

“Companion” starts off slow and lacking excitement, but in hindsight, this was a complementary exposition to add extra shock to the twists that followed.

The film follows the relationship of Iris (played by Sophie Thatcher), an android companion to Josh (played by Jack Quaid).

Josh is a charming, psychopathic individual, and Iris finds herself being the pawn in his manipulative and murderous scheme. Iris discovers along this progression that she is not human and all her memories and emotions are programmed.

While the movie falls under the broad category of romance, viewers be warned that the story revolves around the toxic relationship between Iris and Josh, specifically as a nod to controlling relationships.

“Companion” does a great job of building tension with the classic trope of one of the main characters creating a problem only to come up with solutions that exacerbate the problem.

However, the movie soon becomes an interesting commentary on the shift of emotional landscape over time in relationships—of course, to the extreme, because of murder—adding a sardonic essence.

Note to viewers: The film has a good amount of gore in it.

Whether you enjoy Valentine’s Day or not, people on both sides of the argument will find enjoyment in the stellar performances by the leading actors, as well as its wryly amusing plot.

By the end of the movie, you’ll likely find yourself rooting for Iris and, in reward, revel in a deliciously satisfying ending.