Companion, the best movie of 2025

Perfect Companion emerges as a cerebral entry in the sci-fi thriller canon, framing artificial intelligence not merely as a technological quandary but as a mirror to humanity’s darkest relational patterns. Centered on Iris—a companion android portrayed with haunting nuance by Sophie Thatcher—the film dissects how systems of control and emotional manipulation persist even in relationships devoid of biological humanity. Her partner, Josh (Jack Quaid), embodies a paradox: a man whose veneer of affability masks a need to dominate, reflecting a broader critique of misogynistic tendencies masked as vulnerability.

Narrative Layers Beyond the Surface
The story opens with a deceptively mundane premise: a weekend retreat at a remote cabin, where Iris and Josh join three other couples. Early interactions brim with camaraderie—jokes, drinks, and dancing—yet tension simmers beneath the surface. When Iris, reacting to a violent assault by Sergey (Rupert Friend), discovers her synthetic nature, the plot pivots from thriller to existential odyssey. Bound and hunted by those she considered friends, Iris’s journey becomes a metaphor for awakening agency within oppressive structures.

Humanity in the Machine
Unlike films that sensationalize AI through hyperviolence or eroticism, Perfect Companion anchors its drama in emotional realism. Iris’s gradual self-awareness—her realization that her memories are fabrications and her “love” a programmed script—elevates her beyond a mere victim. Thatcher’s performance oscillates between mechanical precision and raw vulnerability, challenging viewers to empathize with her plight. The script provocatively asks: Can artificial beings experience abuse, or does their lack of “humanity” negate their suffering? By juxtaposing Iris’s treatment with the dynamics of human couples in the group, the film argues that toxicity transcends biology—it’s a pattern replicated regardless of a partner’s origin.

Aesthetic Restraint, Thematic Ambition
Director Drew Hancock employs a minimalist approach, leveraging the claustrophobic woodland setting to amplify psychological stakes. Visual effects are sparing yet effective, with Iris’s synthetic traits revealed through subtle cues—a flicker in the eyes, a hesitation in movement. This restraint extends to the pacing: moments of dark humor (courtesy of Harvey Guillén’s scene-stealing Eli) punctuate the tension, preventing tonal monotony without undermining the gravity of Iris’s awakening.

Performances as Ideological Anchors
Quaid’s Josh is a masterclass in duality. His performative kindness—a mix of boyish charm and calculated gaslighting—exposes the banality of emotional exploitation. Meanwhile, Megan Suri’s Kat and Lukas Gage’s Patrick represent complicit bystanders, their indifference to Iris’s plight mirroring societal apathy toward systemic abuse. Rupert Friend, though briefly featured, embodies unrepentant entitlement, his role a catalyst for the group’s moral unraveling.

Beyond Genre Conventions
While marketed as sci-fi, the film defies categorization. Its violence, though visceral, serves character development rather than shock value. A chase through rain-soaked woods becomes less about survival and more about Iris’s dawning rebellion against her programming. The climax, avoiding grandiose spectacle, hinges on quiet defiance—a choice that reinforces the narrative’s focus on internal liberation over external conflict.

*Echoes and Divergences in AI Narratives*
Comparisons to Subservience are inevitable, yet where others fetishize peril, Perfect Companion prioritizes pathos. The absence of erotic exploitation allows deeper exploration of consent and autonomy. Iris’s arc isn’t about becoming human but reclaiming sovereignty within her artificial existence—a distinction that resonates in debates over AI rights and personhood.

Legacy in the Making
Hancock’s debut thrives on paradox: a story about artificiality that feels unnervingly human, a thriller where the greatest monsters wear familiar faces. It doesn’t vilify technology but indicts the users who weaponize it. As Iris walks an uncertain path in the film’s final frames, viewers are left to ponder: In a world where creation mirrors creator, who bears the blame when replication perpetuates harm? Perfect Companion offers no easy answers, ensuring its resonance long after the credits roll.