WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Companion.The sci-fi horror movieCompanionpresented a surprising and satirical film about a robot going rogue against its owner. The first trailer for2025’sCompanionsucceeded in saying very little about the story, as it only hints at a love story gone wrong by showing Iris handcuffed and Josh lighting her hand on fire. However, the second trailer did so much more by revealingIris is a robot inCompanion, ruining what should’ve been the film’s best twist for audiences.
While I can see why the studio chose to give away the twist aboutIris inCompanion, the movie didn’t need to unveil it to succeed at the box office. As a devoted horror fan and as someone who enjoyedBarbarian, I was already excited to see what surprises this new film had in store for audiences. Though knowledge of Iris as an android helped me spot hidden details in the movie, I still feel that I could’ve enjoyedCompanioneven more if I had gone into the theater unaware of the truth.
Companion’s Trailers Completely Ruined That Iris Was A Robot
Companion’s Trailers Surprised Audiences For Revealing So Much
Companion’s first full trailer surprised me by revealing the fact that Iris was an android. However,I was more surprised that the studio decided to give away so much about the film’s plotbefore it premiered. Usually, when a studio gives away too much in a film’s trailers, it’s a sign that the movie isn’t good and that the studio is trying to present the best moments early to attract as many viewers as possible. That way, the studio could at least make a profit, despite any negative reviews.
However,I still had high hopes forCompanionbefore its release, especially since the film had received many positive early reviews. Once I saw it in a theater, I was pleased that the movie lived up to the hype. However, I couldn’t help but wonder what my experience would have been like had the studio not revealed thatIris was a robot inCompanionbefore the film’s premiere.
Companion Does An Excellent Job Setting Up The Iris Twist
Companion Foreshadows Iris Being A Robot In Many Smart Ways
Since I knew Iris was a robot before seeingCompanion, I noticed several hints pointing toward the truth in the film, specifically in the first act. For instance,Josh told Iris to go to sleep while they were in bed together, with her instant silence hinting that he actually turned her off. Josh also asks Iris what the weather is like, and she answers his question with great detail, sounding very much like a machine. However, this was initially presented as Iris making a humorous impression, effectively masking her robotic nature as romantic banter between her and Josh.
5 Hints That Foreshadow Companion’s Second Robot Twist
Though the twist of there being a second robot in Companion is surprising, there are many little details that hint at the truth early on in the film.
Likewise, Kat explains to Iris that she doesn’t hate her, only that she doesn’t like"the idea of [her].“Kat goes on to say that Iris makes her feel"replaceable.“At this point inCompanion, Kat is talking about how insecure she feels in a society where people can easily buy androids like Iris to serve as romantic partners. Sergey calls Iris a"beautiful creation"when she arrives at his house, hinting at her being a machine.It’s also worth mentioning that “Iris” is “Siri” spelled backward, making for a clever reference to her status as an artificially intelligent being.
Companion’s Trailers Didn’t Have To Spoil The Iris Surprise
Companion’s Iris Twist Being A Secret Would’ve Made The Film More Enjoyable
I can understand why the studio chose to reveal the truth about Iris, as the film would’ve drawn more audiences to theaters by presenting itself as a sci-fi horror movie about androids rather than a standard slasher film. Also, the fact that AI had become such a hot-button topic around the time of the movie’s release caught people’s attention. However,Companion’s teaser trailermarketed it as a film by the creators ofBarbarian, a movie famous for its shocking twists.This told fans ofBarbarianthatCompanionwould be a surprising and meticulously crafted horror filmthat would stand out.
Companion Proves It Didn’t Need To Spoil Its Big Twist
Companion’s big twist was ruined by its trailers, but the satirical sci-fi thriller would have fared better if the creators kept this reveal a secret.
Barbariansucceeded at surprising audiences with its trailers, which reveal very little about the plot or its early twists. It just shows the main characters finding a tunnel underneath a house, where they find themselves chased by something terrifying. The trailers also seem to set up Bill Skarsgård, arguably the most prominent actor in the film, to be a villain, making his fate inBarbarianall the more surprising. WhileCompanion’s first teaser followed the same approach, it failed to follow through with it in the next one.
Had Iris’s status as a robot been kept secret upon the film’s release, I could’ve been more surprised and excited by the realization that I was watching a sci-fi horror movie.
Knowing about Iris being a robot ahead of time didn’t ruinCompanionfor me. In fact, it encouraged me to pay greater attention to the film and how it foreshadowed the twist about Iris, making me appreciate the care and detail put into the script by writer/director Drew Hancock. Had Iris’s status as a robot been kept secret upon the film’s release,I could’ve been more surprised and excited by the realization that I was watching a sci-fi horror movie. It would’ve even made me more inclined to watchCompanionagain to see the hints that I missed.
Did you enjoy Sophie Thatcher & Jack Quaid in Companion?
Companion was a horror/sci-fi twist on the idea of AI companions and everything that could go wrong if they’re integrated into society. While I was excited to see Sophie Tatcher in the film, I wasn’t sure about Jack Quaid before seeing the movie. I enjoy him on The Boys, but I had some reservations about him in this role. While I was nervous, I was so floored by his performance and their performances together.
Ultimately, I foundCompanionto be a clever and layered horror film with a unique spin on romantic comedies, slashers, and sci-fi movies likeBlade RunnerandThe Stepford Wives. The trailers didn’t need to spoil the twist about Iris to draw in audiences, as they already teased thatCompanionwould be a surprising and well-crafted movie. Thankfully, the trailers didn’t prevent me from enjoying Drew Hancock’s directorial debut. Still, I hope his next project will have more secrecy in its marketing now that he has established himself as a successful horror filmmaker.
Companion
Cast
Companion is an upcoming psychological thriller crafted by writer-director Drew Hancock.
