Dir. Drew Hancock | Now in Theaters | Rating: 5/5

Ex Machina for the girls and gays, the most clever and emotionally competent horror comedy in decades, a hell of a good time. I could write a manifesto on how impressive my viewing experience of Companion was, but you’ll have to settle for my 400 word review. 

My reviews tend to be very spoiler free and for the most part this will be. I’m hoping that by seeing the trailer of Companion, you’ve gathered that this is a movie about automatons.. And in the footsteps of Ex Machina, Companion delivers a darkly comedic take on the stark power differences between men and women. 

The way the women are treated in this film, whether they are robotic or not, is identical. In the eyes of many, women have been reduced to archetypal creatures meant to provide, whether it’s sex, companionship, children, etc. Companion may seem rooted in the gender binary, but its inclusion of queer relationships shows the audience that the message here isn’t really about men – it’s about masculinity. And masculinity’s perceived connection to power, success, and ultimately, happiness. This is what makes this story, though told by a man, genuine in its delivery. 

Wonderfully paced and written, the script and storytelling of Companion draws you in. It will have you laughing one moment and pondering the next. As a woman, the climax of this film felt sickeningly realistic. Iris’s ability to navigate the events of the film is not dictated by the fact she is a robot, but instead that she is a femme presenting robot. The ownership and entitlement that the characters feel towards her is not a far cry from the experience of real people in femme bodies. 

More sociopolitically relevant now than ever, the existence of Companion alone mocks the resurgence of the “tradwife,” conservative subculture. Stepford Wives, Ex Machina, Don’t Worry Darling and now Companion. It begs the question for self proclaimed “alpha males” everywhere – how many films do you need to see before you finally look in the mirror?

Know Before You Watch: Features blood, death, sexual assault.