In 2001: A House Odyssey, Stanley Kubrick took audiences on a journey past time and area. Apart from enrapturing the senses with beautiful visuals, Kubrick supplied commentary on humankind’s relationship with expertise. Kubrick depicted how the reliance on expertise to subjugate and management our surroundings will in the end result in our downfall.
Companion provides an identical discourse on our relationship with expertise. In 2025, with AI being additional carried out into our each day lives, Companion explores the continuing dependence on expertise and the toxicity of human nature. The connection between leads Iris (Sophie Thatcher) and Josh (Jack Quaid) is indicative of our trendy reliance upon expertise and poisonous relationships as an entire.
Companion
4.5
/5
- Launch Date
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January 31, 2025
- Runtime
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97 Minutes
- Director
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Drew Hancock
- Writers
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Drew Hancock
Scenes from a Poisonous Relationship
The social commentary that Companion supplies addresses two related subjects within the public discourse concerning relationships. Companion shows the growing reliance on AI and expertise to offer companionship and achievement, and the way companions are handled in poisonous and dangerous methods. On the floor, Josh and Iris look like another modern-day couple that one passes on the road. In truth, Iris looks as if the right companion, dedicated to pleasing Josh and fulfilling his wants, be it for partnership or sexual gratification. Iris’ subservient nature and her willingness to conform are all indicators of a poisonous relationship with one accomplice exerting full management over the opposite.
Iris is the best companion for one easy purpose – she’s programmed that approach. A part of what makes this social commentary so efficient is the premise of programming a robotic to be submissive to at least one’s wants. By putting our relationship with expertise into the precise relationship between Josh and Iris, the viewers is made conscious of themes resembling dependency and subjugation as they relate to each. Iris and Josh’s relationship additionally permits Companion to the touch upon subjects resembling insecurity, entitlement, and the fragility of ego.
Expertise as subjugation is simply as distinguished in 2001: A House Odyssey as in Companion. Originally of Kubrick’s movie, the apes uncover weapons to subdue different animals, juxtaposed with a spaceship exploring the uncharted frontier, and expertise is established as a essential means to dominate. Josh’s programming of Iris demonstrates this identical domination and achievement by expertise. As in each movies, taking part in god with expertise has disastrous penalties.
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From Subservient to Sentient and a New Chapter within the Legal guidelines of Robotics
There is no such thing as a different second in 2001: A House Odyssey that elicits extra worry about our relationship with expertise than the HAL-9000 pc changing into sentient and murdering crew members of a deep area mission to Jupiter. The worry and dread come from one thing created by humankind for its betterment, turning towards us and growing free will.
Iris’ transition from subservient robotic to sentient being with data and free will is introduced on by Josh’s modification to her programming and “taking part in god” with expertise and the dire penalties that come in consequence. By viewing Iris gaining her free will by the eyes of somebody eliminating expertise from the equation, Companion takes 2001‘s concepts a step additional. Now, we’ve got a story of somebody escaping an abusive relationship after having their will certain for thus lengthy. Tying the weather of poisonous relationships and reliance on expertise collectively permits Companion to deal with subjects relatable to audiences. Companion is somewhat upfront with its social commentary, making it extra impactful to many.
Josh’s lack of morals and ethics is on full show, and earlier than Iris turns into sentient, one is reminded of Asimov’s Three Legal guidelines of Robotics. The legal guidelines, written by Asimov, state {that a} robotic could not injure one other human being, enable a human being to return to hurt, and at all times obey orders from its human grasp. With Josh altering Iris’s programming by the usage of an unlawful mod and forcing her to commit homicide, he is breaking the legal guidelines of expertise and society. Iris changing into sentient permits her to achieve free will and observe a path of self-preservation. Companion writes a brand new Darwinian chapter in The Legal guidelines of Robotics: The need for a robotic to outlive.
Companion works on many ranges. The themes of expertise for subjugation and poisonous relationships are blended seamlessly in a singular presentation, offering social commentary. If 2001: A House Odyssey warned its viewers concerning the relationship humanity and expertise share with each other, Companion sees Kubrick’s imaginative and prescient totally realized in the present day.
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The place Can I Watch ‘Companion’?
The most effective movies of 2025 to date, you may stream Companion on MAX and Prime Video.