It takes a special kind of actress to inspire sympathy and devotion from their audience, while simultaneously invoking an uncanny-valley creepiness through their performance.SophieThatchereffortlessly strikes this balance in herlatest film project,Companion. Directed byDrew Hancock,Companionjuggles android sex bots straight out of pulpy science fiction with all the blood and guts of a horror thriller. In one of her most stand-out roles yet, Thatcher plays the titular companion, Iris. Thatcher’s star power dazzles, with her deep understanding of Iris as a character, she helps the sci-fi and rom-com elements ofCompanionmesh with the thriller pacing and psychological horror,all while making Iris a compelling and endearing protagonist.
Sophie Thatcher Plays a Convincing Almost-Human
WhenCompanionbegins, Iris' number one concern is attending a weekend retreat with her beloved boyfriend Josh,played by Jack Quaid, and worrying about whether his friends like her. When the trip takes a gruesome turn, Josh destroys Iris' reality by dropping the bomb that she’s a robot he’s renting for…“company.”Iris has to fight not only to preserve her newfound autonomy but her life.Companionis not shy about Iris’ identity as a robot,revealing the premise in the trailerand having the twist come less than 30 minutes into the film. This quick unmasking of Iris as a companion allows the audience most of the runtime to soak up Thatcher’s inspired performance. Iris has lots of little ticks that betray her identity, even before Josh fesses up to the truth.
‘Companion’ Defies Horror Movie Norms With Brilliant CinemaScore
It’s at par with movies such as ‘A Quiet Place: Day One’ and ‘The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.’
Iris doesn’t ever feel fully human, nor does she come off as a campy sci-fi bot. Instead, Thatcher blends these two aspects of Iris to create a new, unique character. Iris can’t change that she’s a companion, but she does fight for self-actualization. From the very first scene, Thatcher winks at Iris' true nature. As the camera lingers on Iris' legs and feet as she strolls through a supermarket, it’s impossible not to notice Thatcher’s stiff, measured gait. In aninterview with The Movie Podcast, director Hancock credits Thatcher with choosing an unnatural walk as a breadcrumb clue.
There are lots of little details aboutThatcher’s performance that sell Irisas a believable robot. When she’s upset and struggling with a smile, her facial muscles twitch like she’s glitching. When she cries, it’s a perfect, singular tear. Despite these obviously robotic nods,Thatcher allows the very human metaphor of a toxic relationship to power her performance. Her whole face lights up when she looks at Josh, so obviously in love with him that it’s heartbreaking. There is never any doubt that Iris is devoted to Josh, which makes his betrayal all the more devastating for both Iris and the audience. The viewer just wants to reach through the screen, grab Iris by the shoulders, and yell, “You can do so much better!”
How Sophie Thatcher Elevates the Horror of ‘Companion’
The premise ofCompanionis a lot darker than itsbubblegum-pop aestheticwould lead its audience to believe.The idea behindcompanion robots is science fictionat its most chilling.Though Josh claims he hates the term “fuck-bot,” that is essentially what companions are. Fully conscious robots explicitly designed with sex in mind, companions have no control over who they love or what they do. At one point in the film, there’s a quick, throw-away line about people buying companions to use as “target practice,” or to keep them “chained up in a basement” for torture. The more information the film provides on companion robots, how they work, and how people use them, the more the hair on the back of the viewer’s neck stands up.
In a world where people can buy sentient sex bots, it comes as no surprise that all the human characters are despicable.Quaid imbues Joshwith a healthy dose of “Mr. Nice Guy,” while taking out his entitlements and frustrations on Iris. Iris is easily the most endearing character in the whole film.Companion’s wide range of genres allows for a good deal of comedy sprinkled throughout, and most of the laughs are thanks to Thatcher’s impeccable timing and tone.As Iris learns how Josh customized everything about her, in a moment that could easily veer into paralyzing horror, there is levity as Thatcher drolly comments, “Really, Josh?” In another frankly hilarious scene between Iris and a police officer, Thatcher plasters a wide grin on her face as she babbles in German. The dialogue is snappy and Thatcher’s performance ties it all together. The audience can’t help but root for Iris as she learns on her feet while managing to toss in a quippy line here and there. This charming portrayal of Iris highlights how reprehensible Josh is. When the android girlfriend is cuddlier (and more moral) than the human boyfriend, it’s time to self-reflect, buddy!
At least half of Thatcher’s projects have been horror. With the release ofCompanionand the impending drop ofYellowjackets' third season, Thatcher is on a roll with gore for 2025. Having dazzled audiences with her roles as burn-out-turned-hunter Nat inYellowjackets,Sister Barnes in 2024’sHeretic, and Sadie in 2023’sThe Boogeyman, it’s impossible to deny any longer. Sophie Thatcher is one of, if notthescream queen of all the rising Gen Z actors.
