'Companion': Love in the Age of Algorithms Has Never Been This Terrifying

PREMIERE

Last night, I had the chance to see Companion a week before its official release. A film that not only engages with our modern fears but embraces them with humor, tension, and a touch of tenderness.

From its very first scene, with a retro-futuristic vibe reminiscent of 80s tech commercials, Companion makes it clear that we're not dealing with just another sci-fi thriller. This is a film with personality, one that knows how to play with the past to comment on the present and, in many ways, the future.

The premise is simple, almost dangerously close to our reality: a company promises, through an algorithm, to build you a "Companion" that is perfect for you. The only problem? That "perfect" doesn’t always align with what we understand as human. In this case, Josh (Jack Quaid), known for roles in hits like The Boys, plays a lost, clumsy soul seeking connection and finding it with Iris (Sophie Thatcher).

This is where the film shines. Thatcher dazzles with a performance full of nuances. She doesn’t act like an android trying to be human; she acts like a being who already is human, even though the world refuses to accept it. Where does the machine begin, and where does the soul end?

On the other hand, Jack Quaid proves why he is the quintessential "loser" of contemporary cinema. His Josh is both pathetic and endearing, making him the perfect contrast to Thatcher. When he falls apart emotionally, it’s impossible not to laugh and feel bad for him at the same time. The chemistry between them, although improbable, functions like clockwork.

A special mention goes to the direction by Drew Hancock, who debuts with Companion and demonstrates impressive control over the narrative pace. The transitions between comedy and thriller are so natural that you barely notice how you go from laughing to biting your nails. One scene in particular, where Josh tries to "reset" Iris while she sings an old love song, is a masterful example of how Hancock blends the absurd with the unsettling.

Of course, not everything is perfect. The script, although sharp, takes a few predictable shortcuts that slightly diminish the freshness of the third act. However, these minor missteps don’t tarnish the overall experience. As I left the theater, I felt satisfied and couldn’t stop reflecting on the digital and the human, on how Companion manages to laugh at our fears amidst all the artificial intelligence and proposed changes beyond the analog.

Is love enough to cross the line between the human and the robotic? Maybe not. But after watching Companion, one can’t help but want to believe that it is.

Companion hits theaters on January 31st.

@LOVACAINE