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Ah, the loneliness epidemic. It seems like that’s the one thing on everyone’s minds right now—that and AI. I believe there’s a connection between the two, especially as people become progressively more isolated (How many of us work from home, not talking to anyone besides our colleagues on Zoom meetings? What about dating apps? Who else feels nervous thinking about meeting someone in person?). When everyone is burned out and working 24/7, it’s no wonder people are seeking AI partners. It’s hard to meet someone in real life. It’s even harder to do the personal work required to be a good partner. But it’s easy to write a prompt, press a button, and instantly receive the validation, connection, and romance– or Companion– we’re craving.
Sometimes I go on Reddit and read threads about people with AI partners. I got sucked into one earlier this year, mostly because I wanted to understand why someone would want a robotic significant other. The women seemed to have real reasons for this. Many of them were seeking emotional connection, using it like fanfiction, or safely exploring their desires, even if it’s a little strange. As far as the men go… well, let’s say their reasons escalated into unsettling territory very, very fast. But even then, at the root of all the weirdness, I got a sense that everyone was driven by the same feelings of loneliness, fear, and the desire to be loved.
Which brings me to Companion, now available to stream on Prime Video and HBO Max. I saw this around the time I started scrolling through those Reddit threads, and I think it’s one of the better horror movies to come out this year (next to Sinners and Weapons, of course).
We follow Iris (Sophie Thatcher), a soft-spoken android programmed to be the perfect girlfriend. Her douchey boyfriend, Josh (Jack Quaid), brings her along to a weekend getaway in the woods with his friends. She’s not sure if his friends like her. Kat (Megan Suri) seems to be suspicious of Iris, and there’s clearly something between her and Josh, even though she has a boyfriend, Sergey (Rupert Friend). But Iris is a good girlfriend. She tries her best to get along with everyone, and things seem to be going well. That is, until Sergey makes an unwanted sexual advance. Iris kills him, but she’s not sure how she even found it within her to do it in the first place. Something must be wrong with her programming. And something’s definitely wrong with Josh (other than the obvious, but you know).
I went into Companion expecting a breezy but cautionary AI thriller (unfortunately, the marketing gave away that Iris is a robot), but what I got was totally different. In her review, former Dread Central Editor-in-Chief Mary Beth McAndrews called the film “a fascinating and refreshing take on the subgenre,” and she’s right. Companion is actually a fast-paced, funny, and intelligent film about emotional neglect, manipulation, and male entitlement.
Watch the trailer below:
What Companion captures so well is how easy it is to lose yourself when you’re desperate to keep a relationship alive, and how easy it is for a man to use his desires and expectations as a form of control. It made me wonder about the men I found on those Reddit threads and their reasons for seeking AI girlfriends. Many of them were married. Some had children. And all of them felt as though they didn’t have control over their lives. What better way to feel some sense of power than to have a robot girlfriend who would do anything for you? She won’t question you or fight. Her expectations are low. And unlike a human woman, she can be whatever you want her to be. Just make sure you don’t mess with her programming.
And as always, if you love Companion, love Sophie Thatcher, or think Jack Quaid is getting a little too good at playing these kinds of characters, let me know: @ashjenexi on Instagram and X.
Categorized: Streaming News
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