Editor’s Note: “Companion” is an R-rated horror film, which may not be suitable for viewers of all ages. Common Sense Media approximates it is appropriate for viewers age 16 and up. The film and this review contain references to and depictions of  sex, violence, gore and graphic language. 

A billboard of Sophie Thatcher in a chic ‘60s hairstyle and blouse, whited-out eyes and a mysterious man whispering in her ear caught my attention as I drove down Santa Monica Boulevard. Curious about the unreleased film, I googled its title — “Companion,” —watched the trailer and immediately added it to my must-see list.

This “Black Mirror”-esque movie, released Jan. 31, sets its audience up for a somewhat predictable, yet intriguing, watch. The film begins with an analogy about love and relationships from Iris, a 20-something vintage-wearing, doll-like girl, as she is strolling down a grocery store aisle. She locks eyes with a seemingly dorky guy named Josh and feels an immediate connection. They exchange names, smiling and blushing to themselves — a classic rom-com meet-cute trope.

In a voiceover, Iris drops the movie’s tone-setting spoiler: “There have been two moments in my life where I was happiest: The first was the day I met Josh, and the second, the day I killed him.”

Flash-forward to Josh and Iris at a lakeside modern mansion, belonging to Russian millionaire and mobster Sergey, who is dating Josh’s friend Kat. Affectionate couple Eli and Patrick are then introduced, whose ardent relationship seems almost too perfect. That night, after dinner, the group gets tipsy, turns on “Boy” by Book of Love and starts to dance with each other. As the music blares, the camera shifts to a shot of the outside of the house, a dark forest surrounding them, music booming from the inside. The perspective offers the audience a chance to pause and think: Although everything may seem lively and happy now, there is always the possibility for change.

Josh and Iris’ meet-cute in a quaint grocery store seemed too good to be true — because it was. It was one of many options for memories in a drop-down menu for the owners of companion robots, just like Iris.

Through the first quarter of the film, there are bold and constant signs of mental abuse in Iris and Josh’s questionable relationship. Iris is a dedicated and loyal girlfriend who constantly attempts to prove her affection and adoration for Josh. However, her love goes unreciprocated.

As reviewer Jeanette Catsoulis writes, “Today, as trolls bray ‘Your body, my choice’ across the internet, ‘Companion’ resonates.” Josh, Iris’s owner, believes Iris is programmed to capitulate and submit to him, a motif heavily woven into the film and even in real-world male-dominated relationships.

Iris is the true definition of “Your body, my choice,” being somewhat of a sex robot herself. Companion bots are designed to be automatic partners obsessed with their owner, a feature perfect for Josh, an insecure man. He has an appetite for asserting his dominance and blames his need for unrequited affection on “the system” of dating and women. Josh’s abusive and dismissive behavior made it all the more frustrating as a viewer to see Iris struggle to feel and be valued.

The beautiful cinematography of the film allows viewers to understand and feel Iris’ emotions from her perspective. When she is scared, we are scared. When she feels liberated, we feel liberated. The differing perspectives the film displays translated complex codependent relationship dilemmas between the couple into an easy and understandable plot, making it easier to understand why and how characters felt and acted.

The film’s witty jokes and surprises are placed perfectly in the script, keeping viewers constantly interested. Star Sophie Thatcher’s spectacular acting skills only made the film more surreal, elevating its emotional depth and adding humanity to Iris’ journey. Despite the film’s darkness, its intrigue is undoubtedly entertaining, featuring so many unexpected turns that you are guaranteed a startle and a laugh.