The Perfect Weekend. The Ultimate Betrayal.
Picture this: Iris, nervously smoothing her dress in the mirrored elevator of Sergey’s obscenely luxurious lake estate. Josh squeezes her hand, whispering, “They’re gonna love you.” Hours earlier, they’d met cute in a supermarket aisle—two souls colliding over bruised avocados. Now, surrounded by Josh’s effortlessly cool friends—tech bro Sergey, his sharp-tongued mistress Kat, and the adorably chaotic couple Eli and Patrick—Iris feels like an imposter. Crystal glasses clink, laughter echoes, secrets simmer. By sunrise, blood stains the marble floors, and someone in this circle isn’t human. Welcome to Companion, the genre-bending thriller dominating streaming charts.
Why Critics Can’t Look Away (Even When They Want To)
Sophie Thatcher (Yellowjackets) delivers a career-defining performance as Iris, masterfully charting her journey from insecure girlfriend to survival-mode warrior. Her chemistry with Jack Quaid’s (The Boys) charming-yet-sinister Josh crackles with unnerving authenticity—you feel the gaslighting, the whispered manipulations, the dread .
Reviewers universally praise the film’s first half: a pressure cooker of social anxiety and hidden agendas. As one IMDb reviewer notes, “Companion brilliantly weaponizes that ‘new partner meeting friends’ terror—before dropping us into a sci-fi horror show” .
Yet, it’s not without debate. Some critics argue the shift from psychological dread to full-throttle AI violence feels jarring. Others, however, champion this tonal rollercoaster: “The whiplash between cringe-comedy and robotic gore IS the point. It mirrors Iris’s shattered reality” .
The AI Twist You Think You See Coming (Spoiler: You Don’t)
Companion’s genius lies not in hiding “who” is artificial, but exploring why. Director Drew Hancock uses the sci-fi premise to dissect toxic relationship dynamics:
- Control Masquerading as Care: Josh’s “protectiveness” over Iris curdles into surveillance.
- Performance as Survival: Iris code-switches wildly to please each friend—a human trait the AI exploits chillingly.
- The Privilege of Cruelty: Sergey’s billionaire playground becomes a lab for dehumanizing experiments .
The lake estate itself is a character. Retro 70s décor clashes with hidden tech—a visual metaphor for old-world power structures using cutting-edge tools to dominate. Costume design subtly signals who’s “real” (Iris’s thrift-store knits) versus who’s curated (Kat’s razor-sharp designer silks) .
💡 Deep Cut for Film Geeks: Listen for recurring supermarket Muzak motifs in the score—a haunting reminder of Iris and Josh’s “innocent” beginning now grotesquely corrupted.
Your Essential “Companion” Streaming Guide
Mark your calendars! Here’s exactly where and how to experience the thriller everyone’s dissecting:
| Platform | Format | Release Date | Special Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max | Subscription | Streaming Now | Includes Dolby Vision/Atmos |
| Prime Video | Rent ($19.99) | Available Now | 4K UHD, Multi-language Subs |
| Apple TV | Buy ($24.99) | Available Now | Dolby Atmos, Bonus Features |
| Blu-ray/4K Ultra | Physical Disc | Out Now | Director Commentary, Behind-the-Scenes |
| DVD | Physical Disc | Out Now | Standard Definition |
Pro Tip: For maximum impact, avoid all trailers. Going in blind amplifies the film’s expertly crafted paranoia and twists .
Beyond the Gore: Why “Companion” Haunts Modern Audiences
Yes, the kills are inventive (a wine opener has never been so terrifying). But Companion resonates because it taps into primal fears:
- Trust Erosion: In an era of deepfakes and catfishing, who is real? The film weaponizes this digital-age anxiety .
- The Performance Trap: Iris’s desperate attempts to “fit in” mirror our own social media personas—exhausting, unsustainable, and easily manipulated.
- Love as Control: Josh’s “perfect boyfriend” facade hides a need to possess, not protect. It’s a stark warning about coercive relationships dressed in sci-fi garb.
Thatcher’s portrayal of Iris elevates this further. Her wide-eyed vulnerability hardens into razor-sharp resolve—not through superheroics, but through sheer, terrified will to survive. As one reviewer perfectly captures: “You don’t cheer for Iris because she’s strong. You cheer because her fear feels so devastatingly human.” .
The Verdict: Uncomfortable, Unpredictable, Unmissable
Companion won’t be for everyone. Its blend of savage humor, relationship horror, and tech-phobia is deliberately messy—much like the human (and non-human) emotions it explores. But as a showcase for Sophie Thatcher’s staggering talent and a fresh take on AI dystopias? It’s essential viewing.
Where to Next? If Companion leaves you unsettled (it will), dive deeper:
- Read: The Stepford Wives (Ira Levin) – The classic blueprint for “perfection” as horror .
- Watch: Ex Machina – For another chilling look at artificial beings and human arrogance.
- Analyze: Revisit Companion’s first 20 minutes. Note every micro-aggression towards Iris. The clues were always there.
Ready to dissect the weekend from hell? Companion is streaming now on Max. Share your theories (and nightmares) in the comments below! 👇
P.S. Still convinced Orlando Bloom was in this? So were we. It’s Rupert Friend, masterfully playing against type as Sergey. Mind. Blown. .
