Bodies Under Patriarchy: Companion Essay

By: Myriam Akbar

Companion is a film that blends the horror, science fiction, and comedy genres to critique misogynistic ideologies and behaviors, clearly showcasing how under patriarchy — everyone suffers. It’s both written and directed by Drew Hancock, whose use of intentional dialogue and implication of crucial characterization is masterful. Some viewers had expectations of scares and mind-blowing plot twists; however, this film leans more into shock and the exploration of the fear the characters are experiencing. I went in blind and was impressed by the balance of humor and horror with sociological themes. Companion features outstanding acting performances, laugh-out-loud jokes that land, and thought provoking script choices. 

The plot follows Iris and Josh, a seemingly normal couple who are traveling to a remote lakehouse to meet some friends. Beginning with a classic horror trope, I became less interested in the events taking place and more so the meaning behind each scene. Although we are to believe the couple is happily in love, the dialogue suggests a tension between them stemming from what looks like Iris’ anxiety about meeting his friends. Diligently watching how Josh reacts to this and how he chooses to support her, led to me realizing that there would be sociological and psychological commentary present. His behavior towards her quickly changes; as we see him express loss of interest, a dismissive attitude, and overall misogyny tendencies (misogyny: defined as the dislike, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against women). However, one scene in particular (during an intimate exchange between Iris and Josh) put the idea in my head that she might not be a typical woman. And by typical, I mean human. While the setting and beginning plot details are shrouded in film tropes, the characters are uniquely designed to demonstrate critical components in understanding the behaviors that reinforce patriarchy (patriarchy: defined as a system or government in which men hold the power). This is not intended to be a full-coverage review but an essay focusing on this, as I will leave out much of the plot details for those who read this before watching the film. 

The film includes other characters: Sergey who owns the lakehouse, his girlfriend Kat, and an additional couple – Eli and Patrick. The day after arrival, Iris pays a visit to the lake where Sergey attempts to assault her and she kills him in self defense. Being the inciting incident, she returns to the house covered in blood and tries to explain what happened. While one may expect a variety of reactions, Josh simply tells her to “go to sleep.” Iris wakes up tied to a chair and is made conscious of her existence as a companion robot – and she’s exactly what it sounds like. 

Sophie Thatcher, who plays Iris, is exceptionally brilliant as she gives a shockingly believable performance of an artificially intelligent being. Her precise and calculated facial expressions and movements, her ability to emotionally match the mood, and her dialogue delivery creates the most realistic interpretation of a robot I’ve ever seen. Hancock’s sharp-witted strategy of using the oblivious and compliant nature of a robot to demonstrate a woman who exists only within male-centeredness is elite. ”Lamb to the Slaughter” is a 1953 short story written by Roald Dahl, that follows an overworked, subservient housewife (Mary) who struggles to accept her husband’s attempt at leaving her. Similar to that of Iris, Mary’s initial reaction is shock and denial. In both cases, this stems from the lack of consideration of life without a man to essentially take care of. However, not due to lack of desire but existing within a patriarchal system that places societal and economical limitations on women. There’s also a dehumanizing factor, where both women (robot or or human alike) are merely kept around to be servants. Both make last attempts to salvage their relationships, only to be pushed to other — more extreme measures. The rebellion begins. 

An aspect of 2024’s Strange Darling that stood out to me was the way the writer, JT Mollner uses gender biases to enhance the mystery surrounding who is the actual threat between the two central characters. While Companion is not entirely cat and mouse-like, there’s several events that happen in the film that result in characters partaking in such a game. However; what I find more important, is that the events that take place are outside of bias – signifying how all people (men, women, straight or not) are capable of embodying misogynistic ideologies and behaviors. This is where the themes shift from toxic masculinity, to the true nature behind the dehumanization — power. Iris isn’t the only robot in the group, Patrick is one too and it turns out Eli isn’t much different than Josh. Demonstrating the way in which these systems push people against each other, Kat is willing to turn her back on anyone to get what she wants. Then at some point, Patrick does the same thing to Iris while trying to retrieve her. She is stopped by a cop, who he kills and takes his gun – now having the control. This is such an important part of the film, one that I feel many people happened to overlook. It moves away from bodies in romantic relationships, friendships, and artificial forms, to bodies that partake in systemic oppression – like police violence. The awareness of one's power over others and the desire to use it for its benefits, is dehumanization in the act. Along with this is a set of beliefs and behaviors that allow one to keep others vulnerable, because at the core of an oppression being is the belief that you’re worth more than the other. 

One of my favorite scenes in the film involves Iris changing her features in order to beat Josh at his own game, touching on the attributes that men assume women don’t have the ability to possess (intelligence, aggression, and cause harm). It’s not about ability, but allowed ability. When women are limited in society, they will also be limited in what is gained with personal, political, economical, and educational autonomy. In Companion Iris’ technological build limits her, whereas in “Lamb to the Slaughter,” Mary’s limits are decided based on gender. Let me skip ahead to a scene where Josh alters Iris’ settings, resulting in the burning of her arm. My interpretation of this is that it’s a symbol for many of the thematic concerns in the film. For example, the harm of ignoring red flags in relationships and difficulties of resistance to systems that are ingrained in our daily lives. Let me skip a little further into the film, to the revelation that the robots all record what they experience – in a drive that’s placed in the abdomen area. This reinforces the idea that although these toxic patriarchal ideologies exist and cause harm, they will be recorded in human history. The damage remains very much alive, fiery in the bodies that are exhausted under patriarchy. Similar to that of Autopsy of Jane Doe, where the villain is an entity of an abused woman and haunts those examining her body for revenge. The violent cycle of senseless pain will either continue or be examined for further understanding. In this, we will be able to combat these systems that are dragging most of us down.

Something many people don’t know is that the term robot derives from the short 1920 play R.U.R, written by Karel Capek. Early depictions in cartoons for example, typically illustrate a clunky, metal body with buttons and a screen somewhere. However, the creations in the play are biologically engineered – closely resembling humans. Ironically, they’re a mix of what we’ve produced recently – artificially intelligent creations both technologically and sometimes biologically engineered. They’re cheap and available worldwide, being used as workers and servants. This is similar to their use in present time reality. The plot involves the intentions of creating the robots and the repercussions of such an act – a rebellion and essentially loss of control of the world. The ending scene in particular reminds me of Companion, when two robots (one man and one woman) begin to display human emotions and behaviors, specifically love and the need to protect one that you care for. It is at this moment, that they are given power over Earth – showcasing a level of empathy humans were not able to achieve. In the end, Iris achieves a level of autonomy that the other robots have not achieved (yet). Like most science fiction stories, we can assume the artificial companions will radicalize each other and revolt. I personally would like to see this sequel. 

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, autonomy is defined as the right of a person to govern themselves and govern as the ability to have a controlling influence over something. Companion explores the ways in which individual autonomy is impacted by societal and systemic harmful ideologies, as they essentially interrupt and limit one’s freedom. It examines how this affects the nature of collective autonomy – the way in which we affect one another’s autonomy. As demonstrated in R.U.R, the use of robots in art and media has always included the critique of the intersection of autonomy and governing powers. The technological and/or biological creation aspect of artificial intelligence is strategic in both mirroring human behavior and holding a mirror up to us. I don’t view this film as a lesson about empathy, but more so a critique of humanity’s need to control. The loss of possession and influence is what creates fear for the characters in the film, who are faced with the negative repercussions of artificial intelligence. For many, this topical subject questions the relation of power and oppression. The knowledge of the difference in species, often argues that there should be a difference in treatment and overall value. For many, this ideology exists within their relationship to each other, nature, the environment, and animals. While some, treasure the sentiment of treating others and all that’s around them with the same level of respect that would like to receive. With technology advancing and becoming more ingrained in our daily lives, everything discussed in this essay is both relevant and necessary – certainly, to move forward as a collective society that places equal value on bodies. 

Sources: dictionary.cambridge.org

Photo Sources: theHollywoodreporter.com, goodreads.com, msn.com, screenrealm.com, and thewrap.com