Companion

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Directed by: Drew Hancock

Starring: Sophie Thatcher and Jack Quaid

In an era where every other movie integrates AI, robots, and androids to stay topical, it’s easy to fall into the usual stereotypes and conventions. However, Companion cleverly plays with these tropes in a meta way, offering sharp social commentary on manipulation, love, and female empowerment. At the same time, it defies those same stereotypes to elevate its story.

Iris (Sophie Thatcher) anchors the film with her performance as a companion robot becoming introspective—even though robots aren’t supposed to have feelings. Or do they? That’s for the audience to decide. Josh (Jack Quaid), Kat (Megan Suri), Patrick (Lukas Gage), and Eli (Harvey Guillén) form a strong supporting cast, hilariously and maliciously counteracting Iris and her so-called conscious awakening.

As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent in the real world, creating original and inventive stories within this subgenre is becoming increasingly difficult. But Companion, under Drew Hancock’s direction, proves that freshness is still possible, serving as a strong step toward revitalizing AI-focused sci-fi.

Love Me

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Directed by: Andrew and Sam Zuchero

Starring: Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun

Love Me stuns with its visuals and effects, fully immersing the audience in the robotic world it depicts. Through the use of contemporary mediums and platforms, the film offers a modern spin on the evolution of man and woman—an Adam and Eve of the future. Me (Kristen Stewart) and Iam (Steven Yeun) meet as a buoy and satellite, working their way backward from technology into humanity. The stilted and unnatural dialogue works to the film’s advantage, complementing both leads and their behaviors. While it’s clear the melodramatic dialogue is intentional, there are moments when it drags on just long enough for its effectiveness to wear off.

The film’s originality shines in how artificial intelligence, at the end of humanity, searches for meaning out of pure curiosity. It raises similar questions to Companion about robots and androids gaining consciousness. Love Me excels in its philosophical postulations, stunning visual compositing, and strong performances—though some moments fall flat.