Movies

How ‘Companion’ Uses AI to Flip the Script on Toxic Masculinity in Horror

BBG News

As artificial intelligence continues to advance at an accelerated pace, it may seem more concerning than before due to its potential for misuse. However, one could argue that the true source of fear lies not in the technology itself, but rather in humans who are ready to employ it without regard for ethics or morals.

In a shift from traditional “intellectual” films, the film titled “Companion,” directed by Drew Hancock (known for “My Dead Ex” and “Suburgatory”), leans more towards dark humor and adventure. However, it subtly delivers contemporary insights on the potential impact of toxic masculinity in the development of what the movie calls both “emotional support robots” and “f-ck-bots.

The theater-released horror-comedy is being praised as one of those films where it’s best to go in knowing as little as possible. However, the film’s final trailer revealed too much, and the main twist appears less than 30 minutes into the movie (with several obvious hints preceding it). The movie Companion starts with a flashback showing Iris (Sophie Thatcher from Yellowjackets) reminiscing about her predictable encounter at a grocery store with her boyfriend Josh (Jack Quaid from The Boys), while simultaneously setting the stage for what follows in a voiceover: “The two most joyful moments of my life were the day I met Josh…and the day I took his life.

The narrative shifts to a point midway between their significant milestones, as the couple joins Josh’s friends for a weekend getaway at a remote lake house. Alongside are his close friend Kat (portrayed by Megan Suri), her questionable Russian benefactor Sergey (Rupert Friend), who owns the property, and Eli (Harvey Guillén) along with his partner Patrick (Lukas Gage). Iris feels apprehensive as she believes the group isn’t fond of her, especially Kat, who shows clear hostility. On their first night together, Kat confides in Iris, “You make me feel like a replacement.

In light of some unusual actions, this admission becomes significantly more intriguing when it leads to Iris fatally defending herself against Sergey the following morning after he made inappropriate advances towards her by the lake. Upon returning home covered in blood and collapsing into a state of panic, Josh immediately tells her to “get some rest.

When he rouses her from sleep, the truth is revealed, as he confides in her that she’s not a genuine human being, but rather a robot produced by a company named Empathix, designed to be his ideally obedient romantic partner. All her recollections of their early relationship are fabricated, and Josh has tailored her characteristics using an app on his phone, adjusting aspects such as intelligence, personality, eye color, and more. Moreover, due to Empathix’s standard practices, she is unable to deceive him.

Essentially, she functions like a high-tech girlfriend without personal desires or autonomy – until Josh illegally alters the Empathix app to intensify Iris’ self-preservation instincts and aggressive capabilities, manipulating her into killing Sergey as part of his scheme with Kat to steal his money. However, Iris manages to outwit her human tormentors once she discovers Josh’s phone and regains control over her settings.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Hancock stated that the film they’re discussing is not your typical robot movie. Unlike other films where AI goes awry, this one portrays AI functioning correctly. At its heart, it’s a tale of self-discovery and essentially a breakup story about a woman gaining strength and empowerment through her personal journey of self-discovery.

In various near-future sci-fi productions like “Her,” “Ex Machina,” and “Westworld,” the theme of the dangers of romantic entanglements with AI has been explored. This trend is likely to grow, even if at present it leans more towards emotional than physical connections. The mentioned films and series all portray their robots with a level of empathy, depicting humanity as either somewhat underdeveloped or intentionally insensitive and cruel. Additionally, these works often focus on artificial entities with feminine characteristics being the love interest of a male human. However, in this latest production, Hancock appears to be criticizing the rise of incel culture by presenting android Iris as a sympathetic “final girl” who stands up for herself against Josh and his entitled “nice guys finish last” attitude. Quaid has described Josh as a “real jerk.

He shared with Entertainment Weekly that a less sophisticated film might have portrayed him as the protagonist, with Iris serving as the antagonist who’s losing her mind, and Josh stepping in to resolve the situation. Instead, he appreciates how this movie takes a more authentic approach by showing Josh acting for selfish motives. He admires that, surprisingly, the most human character in this tale is the robot.

Eventually, the genuine malevolent side of Josh was revealed so profoundly that not even a woman predisposed to love him unconditionally could tolerate him. That’s quite significant, indeed.

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2025-01-31 16:06

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