Companion (2025) - A Review
The Scene Snob score 4 out of 5
Companion was an unexpected hit for me, and it just might be my favorite horror movie of the year so far. This film defies genre conventions, blending elements of sci-fi, psychological horror, and thriller into a tense, unpredictable ride. The less you know going in, the better—this is a film best experienced blind, allowing the story to unfold with all of its surprises intact.
Sophia Thatcher delivers a mesmerizing performance as Iris, an android whose complexity goes far beyond the usual AI-driven horror tropes. Her portrayal balances eerie precision with unsettling moments of emotion, making her character all the more compelling. She carries much of the film’s tension on her shoulders, shifting between seemingly programmed responses and moments that hint at something deeper.
Jack Quaid, known for playing affable and approachable characters, uses that natural charm to his advantage here. His “nice guy” persona is disarming, but as the film progresses, he brings a chilling intensity to the role. The dynamic between Quaid and Thatcher creates an uneasy chemistry that keeps the audience on edge.
What makes Companion truly stand out is its ability to take familiar horror and sci-fi elements and twist them into something new. It never settles into one predictable formula—just when you think you understand what kind of story it’s telling, it shifts into something else entirely. The film plays with expectations, utilizing well-known tropes but subverting them in ways that feel fresh and unsettling.
Between its gripping horror sequences, Companion excels at developing nuanced characters. The director takes time to establish small but meaningful personality traits that make each character feel real. This attention to detail makes their fates more impactful and adds an extra layer of emotional depth to the terror unfolding on screen.
Thank you for reading,
Mick Manhattan
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