Companion Was Originally a Much Darker Movie

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The following article contains spoilers for Companion.

The latest AI-themed horror movie, titled “Companion,” is receiving widespread acclaim in theaters. This film is a debut effort from director Drew Hancock, who teamed up with Zach Cregger, the director of “Barbarian” (now serving as producer), to create a distinctive genre piece that’s not just smart and amusing but also conversation-worthy. However, it’s been confirmed by Hancock that “Companion” was initially quite different. In its early stages, it seemed like every other AI horror movie. Thankfully, Hancock chose to revise his script.

A duo finds themselves at a massive secluded mansion belonging to wealthy Russian individual Sergey (Rupert Friend). The pair, Josh and Iris (Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher), are new in their relationship, and Iris is not entirely at ease with Josh’s acquaintances. However, the dynamics might shift significantly over the course of this weekend – fingers crossed for positive change.

It appears that Iris is indeed a robot, yet she exhibits emotions. In an unexpected twist, Iris’s response to Sergey’s violent actions was self-defense, leading her to stab him multiple times. When Josh instructed Iris to shut down, it became clear that they had a larger scheme in mind. Essentially, their plan involved robbing Sergey and framing Iris for the entire incident.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly about the movie, Hancock revealed a surprising twist. Initially, he planned to depict Iris as the antagonist, following the conventional theme of “killer robot” movies like Terminator. However, he recognized a chance to alter the narrative and strive for a more engaging film.

One day, the term “‘Companion'” suddenly occurred to me and I couldn’t shake it off. In my initial concept, which I may not have disclosed to Sophie, Iris was initially depicted as the antagonist. The story unfolds at a cabin deep in the forest, where it is eventually revealed that one of them is a malfunctioning robot who begins to eliminate Josh’s companions.

I began contemplating Iris as isolated, similar to how intimidating it can be meeting a partner’s loved ones. Then, an intriguing thought struck me: “What if the robot was the most relatable character in this tale?” At that moment, I became captivated by the concept… Instead of AI malfunctioning, this story is about AI functioning perfectly.

‘Companion’s Twist is Appealing, Especially to its Cast

Both Quaid and Thatcher are fascinating figures in their respective roles. Josh exudes a troubling amount of traditional masculinity, and his relationship with Iris evolves into a deeply unsettling examination of our perceptions of artificial intelligence, learning machines, and robots in general. Iris serves as an enlightening perspective on a robot’s ability to protect itself, but she is not as emotionless as many believe, particularly Josh.

In an interview with EW, Quaid expressed that he appreciates the storyline because “the most human character is the robot. Typically, a lesser film might have made me the main character, while casting Iris as the villain who’s becoming unstable. But what I admire about this movie is its more authentic approach, where Josh, despite his self-centered nature, takes center stage for personal motives.

Initially, Thatcher harbored doubts about her ability to portray a character as intricate and multifaceted as the one she was given. However, she managed to deliver an exceptional performance that has made it to our top picks of the year. Here’s what she told EW: “At first, I was filled with fear, thinking I wouldn’t be able to pull it off. The script was amazing, but its complexity terrified me due to all the technical aspects I thought I couldn’t handle. However, I had enough time to prepare, and it felt just right. I was overjoyed and petrified.

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2025-01-31 23:34