If you’ve seen the kinky and creative marketing campaign for Companion, a brand-new film starring Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid, you know that there is something interesting about this movie. Part sci-fi and part horror-thriller with some rom-com elements sprinkled in, Companion has become one of the buzziest movies of 2025, due in large part to its mysterious teaser trailer that ends with a shocking, static wide shot Thatcher’s arm engulfed in flames.

At face value, the movie is about a hyper-intelligent robot named Iris (Thatcher), who becomes sentient and challenges the control of her human companion (Quaid). While away on a couple’s weekend with friends, things go off the rails as Iris’ hardware — which is programmed to stop her from harming humans or animals — fails and results in bloodshed and panic. Much like in real life, though, things aren’t always as they appear. In fact, in both trailers put out by Warner Bros, little is revealed about the characters or the direction of the film. And that’s the genius of this movie.

Fair warning: Some very light spoilers to follow — just sayin’.

Every time you think you know which direction Companion is taking you, the film takes a quick and sharp left turn that feels fun, weird, and surprisingly, not derivative. What really struck me about this movie, though, is that it doesn’t rely on its intriguing concept to keep viewers in suspense. In another world or marketed by another studio, Companion would have kept Iris’ android status a secret until the moment that it is revealed via an on-screen interaction with Quaid’s character. Hints are dropped throughout the first act about what Iris really is, but if you were to go in completely blind, your suspicions are not confirmed until the aforementioned big moment.

I initially struggled with this decision because I think it would have been incredible to keep it under wraps, but I think it almost works better as is. By being upfront with their main “twist,” the other twists feel unexpected rather than redundant. And it’s anything but. From the moment you sit down and the credits roll, the movie grips your attention and holds fast and firm, taking you on a wild ride.

Given its release date — just two weeks out from Valentine’s Day — it’s no surprise that the studio is selling it hard as “a different kind of love story.” Truthfully, it goes heavier on the “com” than the “rom” if that will tell you anything. But it does make some interesting points about the value of relationships, autonomy, and what we give up when we fall in love. That and what it takes to claw your way out of an unhealthy dynamic, which is at the center of this film. After Iris’ shocking malfunction, not only does she have to come to terms with not having a heart or a brain, she must reconcile that to the supposed love of her life, she is nothing more than an expensive gadget and a sex toy he can take out in public without judgment.

Filling out the killer (pun intended) ensemble alongside Thatcher and Quaid are names like Megan Suri (Never Have I Ever), Lukas Gage (Smile 2), and Harvey Guillen (What We Do In the Shadows). While Suri — who starred in 2023’s It Lives Inside — and Gage each have notable horror credits under their belt, the entire group works well together to create a friend group that feels relatable and desirable. Well, for most of the movie, that is. The twisty-turny nature of the story allows for confusion and suspiciousness in every scene, requiring actors with strong backgrounds in both comedy and drama, something this group excels at.

When we’re talking about the biggest selling points of Companion, though, Thatcher’s acting cannot be overlooked — she is born to star in movies like this. After standing out in 2023’s The Boogeyman — an otherwise lackluster horror flick based on the eponymous Stephen King story — and killing it alongside Chloe East in 2024’s Heretic, the Yellowjackets star is carving out a special place for herself in the scary movie hall of fame. Not only does she have the perfect voice to pull off the role, but she fluidly moves between mechanical and methodical with a precision that is enviable. Some people have natural predispositions to certain genres and Thatcher is made for horror, something this movie only helps to solidify. I don’t think any actor should be relegated to one genre forever but if there were ever a case to be made for that argument, Thatcher’s seamless execution in Companion is a winning one.

I can’t guarantee that this movie will be everyone’s cup of tea, especially since many are already turned off by the concept of Thatcher playing a glorified sex robot on a power trip. It’s certainly not getting the recommendation of any pastors I know personally, but then again, what super fun movies ever have? But if you are looking for a film that will genuinely keep you on your toes and not tell you exactly what it is from the start, this is it.

Companion is a movie that will truly have you thinking, “What the hell is happening,” followed immediately by, “Who cares? This f**king rocks.” And if you’re anything like me, you will be searching through the deep recesses of your brain and thinking, “I can’t remember the last time I found myself cheering this hard for a robot.”

Companion arrives in theaters on January 31. A streaming date has yet to be released.