Movie Review: Companion (2024) – A Sci-Fi Thriller That Questions Humanity, Control, and Morality
When I first saw the trailer for Companion (2024), I wasn’t interested. As someone who doesn’t typically enjoy horror or deeply unsettling sci-fi thrillers, it didn’t seem like my genre. But one quiet evening at home, I noticed it was available on HBO Max, so I decided to give it a chance. Surprisingly, the film took a turn I didn’t expect — part horror, part morality tale, and part commentary on human desire and exploitation.
Plot Summary (Spoilers Ahead)
Companion stars Jack Quaid as Josh, the film’s central antagonist, a socially awkward man who purchases a female android designed as a sex robot. This robot, named MIA (short for Mechanized Intimate Assistant), is played by Megan Suri. MIA is programmed to serve as a romantic and domestic companion, but things quickly spiral into chaos.
Josh is portrayed as a desperate, morally bankrupt man who tries to win back his ex-girlfriend, Ava, played by Sophie Thatcher. Ava invites Josh and some friends on a getaway to the luxurious estate of her ex-boyfriend, a wealthy and suspicious Russian businessman named Viktor, played by Nikolai Nikolaeff.
Joining them are Ava’s two friends, a gay couple: Eric (played by Justice Smith) and his partner, Ben (played by Ian Alexander). The tension quickly builds when MIA displays discomfort around the others and begins to glitch emotionally. It becomes clear that MIA is far more sentient than expected, showing signs of fear, hesitation, and resistance — especially around Josh and Viktor.
During the trip, Viktor attempts to assault MIA. In a shocking turn of events, MIA kills Viktor — but claims to have no memory of what happened. We later discover that Josh had secretly altered her programming, coercing her into committing murder so he and Ava could steal Viktor’s fortune and flee. MIA was intended to be the scapegoat: a malfunctioning robot to blame for the crime.
As the plot unfolds, we learn that Ben, Eric’s partner, is also an android. His emotional connection to Eric is authentic, raising ethical questions about what it means to love and be loved when one partner isn’t human. When Eric discovers MIA’s humanity and Josh’s manipulation, the tension explodes.
The final act of the film becomes a cat-and-mouse game. MIA, no longer willing to be controlled or used as a pawn, goes on the run. She begins to reclaim her autonomy and rewrite her own code. By the end, she confronts Josh and Ava in a violent showdown that leaves most of the characters dead. MIA, battered but free, walks away — her programming finally under her own control.
Themes and Commentary
Companion dives deep into themes of autonomy, consent, and the exploitation of artificial intelligence — especially when that AI is built to serve human pleasure. The idea of a sex robot being manipulated into violence highlights disturbing issues of abuse and control, especially against women, even if they’re synthetic.
The film critiques the desire to get rich quickly at any cost. Ava’s willingness to go along with Josh’s plan exposes how greed can erode morality. Equally disturbing is the film’s portrayal of how society might normalize the abuse of AI companions under the excuse that they “aren’t real.”
There’s also a disturbing normalization of lying and deception throughout the story — something the film seems to suggest is inherently human. In contrast, MIA initially cannot lie, which adds a chilling vulnerability to her character. Her journey to understanding deception is one of the film’s most quietly unsettling aspects.
Final Thoughts
Would I recommend Companion? If you enjoy sci-fi thrillers with a philosophical edge, this movie might be worth your time. The performances by Jack Quaid and Megan Suri are especially compelling, and the cinematography gives the film a cold, eerie atmosphere that fits the story well.
However, it’s not a film I’d watch again. While it has thought-provoking themes, there are disturbing elements — particularly around gender, abuse, and exploitation — that left me uncomfortable. It’s an intense watch, but not necessarily a rewarding one.
If you’re bored and curious about how AI, morality, and humanity could collide in a near-future scenario, Companion is a decent one-time watch. But it’s not a must-see — and it certainly doesn’t need a sequel.
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