The first great movie of 2025

How do you even start talking about “Companion” without giving away the game? Before we go any further, let me get something out of the way: a lot of people have become too spoiler-phobic. At some point some people decided that any and each element of the movie is a spoiler. Perhaps it has something to do with how the now-defunct Marvel Cinematic Universe took over the film landscape and made spoilers such a big dealmaybe not. All I know is that people can be very confident in what they consider to be spoilers. Even talking about the tiniest details of a movie can draw the ire of someone loudly proclaiming, “Thanks for ruining things, jerk!” To be clear, I don't mean that marketing-confirmed details — things that appear in the official synopsis or trailer — don't count as spoilers. If the studio makes these details known in advance, it's definitely fair game. And yet… “The Companion,” the new horror film from writer-director Drew Hancock, presents me with an interesting, somewhat sticky dilemma.

At the end of last year, the first trailer for the movie “Companion”. dropped and immediately created an audience among fans of the genre. The images were arresting, evocative and even shocking, while revealing nothing about the film's story. It was a really exciting teaser – the perfect way to build hype for the film. I think the teaser was so effective that Warner Bros. the staff could have stopped there and released the film without additional marketing. But it didn't happen. Instead, as the release date approaches, a a new “Companion” trailer is here — and gave the game away. To be fair, the trailer still plays things (mostly) close to the vest. And yet it also reveals one of the film's biggest twists. And part of me can't help but think the movie would be even better if this particular detail was kept a secret. At the same time, when reviewing a film, I have to ask myself an important question: How much should I give away here? It goes without saying that I try to keep my reviews as spoiler-free as possible. And yet the people responsible for marketing the Companion have already let the cat out of the bag.

So let me give you a friendly warning: given the official marketing of the film, nothing I say here will be a spoiler. And yet, if you've somehow avoided watching the latest trailer for 'Companion', maybe come back now. Just know that The Companion is the first great movie of 2025, a funny, fast-paced, carefully crafted horror thriller with a killer performance from lead actress Sophie Thatcher.

When “Companion” begins, self-proclaimed “nice guy” Josh (Jack Quaid) and his girlfriend Iris (Sophia Thatcher) are going on a weekend getaway in the woods with some of Josh's friends. Iris is nervous; she thinks Josh's friends don't like her, especially Josh's close friend Kat (Megan Suri). Other vacationers include Kat's Russian boyfriend Sergey (Rupert's boyfriend) and friendly couple Eli (Harvey Gillen) and Patrick (Luke Gage, who was recently seen smashing his face in 'Smile 2'). While Kat really puts Iris down almost immediately, and Sergey is vaguely creepy and menacing, Eli and Patrick seem genuinely kind to Iris. Meanwhile, Iris is clearly completely devoted to Josh, almost obsessively so. She is not shy about expressing her love and treats Josh as the most important person in her world.

And there's a big reason for that: Iris is a robot controlled by Josh. The movie keeps this detail under wraps for as long as possible, and again, I'm conflicted about revealing it. But it's in the trailer, and it's hard to talk about “Companion” without mentioning it. All that being said, I will admit that knowing this big twist ahead of time (I saw the movie the same day the reveal trailer dropped) didn't hurt the movie for me. Indeed, there are subtle, clever clues to Iris's true nature in the early scenes, and knowing this twist allows you to spot them while adding to the fun.

Iris has no idea that she's actually a love robot, the artificial girlfriend that the creepy tech bros strangely dream about. She is completely convinced that she is a real person, and she doesn't realize that Josh is able to control her actions through an app on his phone. But that's all about to change in a big, disturbing way. When something goes very, very wrong (with bloody consequences), Iris is shocked to learn that her whole life has been a lie. She's not an independent person—she's made hardware. And her lover, Josh, isn't her boyfriend—he's her owner. What should a highly skilled, highly capable humanoid robot with advanced AI do?

“The Companion” balances complex relationship issues with issues of morality, autonomy, empathy, ethics, and compassion. What do we humans owe to artificial beings that can seemingly think and feel? Are Iris's emotions and feelings even real? How “intelligent” is intelligent AI? Do androids dream of electric sheep? These issues pile up, and yet “Companion” doesn't get too bogged down in them. Let's not get it wrong: this is a smart movie, but ultimately the movie doesn't want to deliver a message, it wants to shock and entertain, and it does so with glee. When we get down to brass tacks, this is a soft B-movie with a glossy sheen, and I say that with love and affection.

Consistently funny and surprising, “Companion” is clever when it needs to be, without forgetting to be disturbing. I'm deliberately avoiding giving away more of what's going on here, but know that Hancock's script keeps throwing in twists and turns that never feel cheap or unearned. Also, the writer-director creates an excellent world here. Without complicated exposition, we learn everything we need to know about Iris's actions, and it all makes sense within the logic of the film. It would be very easy for Hancock and company to take simple shortcuts to make the premise work, but Companion plays fair while also creating its own sense of reality. In other words, this movie about a messed-up sex-robot feels as believable as a movie about a sex-robot gone mad can feel, and that's impressive.

It helps that the cast is game, especially Thatcher, who is designed and built to be as attractive as possible here, while also doing a fantastic job of making Iris feel like a fully realized character. We to know that when you get down to it, Iris isn't a real person. And yet, we can't help but sympathize with her and root for her every step of the way. She is more human than human. Quaid, all goofy hands and goofy grin, is also pretty good playing the quintessential “good guy” who doesn't stop to think about his decisions.

With shades of Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, “Twilight Zone”, Black Mirror, Gone Girl and even I Spit on Your Grave, Companion isn't shy about wearing its influences on its sleeve. And yet, the film never feels derivative, often feeling fresh and exhilarating, full of wild, laugh-out-loud energy that keeps you hooked and cheering. Even at its darkest and bloodiest, it is a fun movie, and god it was refreshing to have fun at the movies again. This is Drew Hancock's feature debut, and he's immediately established himself as a filmmaker to watch out for.

Would the Companion have been even better if I hadn't known the twist of Iris' entrance? I will never be able to say for sure. And yet, this foreknowledge certainly didn't hurt the film for me. Indeed, this ultimately makes Companion a film that's sure to be fun to watch again, so you can catch all the little hints and clues that are dropped early on, making the whole thing all the more enjoyable.

January is often considered a dumping ground, a place where studios send movies to die. But “Companion” is proof that the beginning of the year doesn't have to be reserved for forgettable trash and clothes. I firmly believe that I will still be thinking about the companion even when December 2025 comes around – it's that good. Moviegoers often cry out that they want fresh, original movies, not endless remakes and sequels. Well here it is. “A companion” is exactly what you are looking for. Don't miss it.

/Film rating: 9 out of 10

The movie “The Companion” will be shown in theaters on January 31, 2025.