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Companion has a technological yin and yang that, if looked up closely, will give anyone chills and reassurance at the same time. From what we know all of it is happening in a distant future where technology has evolved, but people are so lonely that they need a bot as a companion.
There's no build-up on Iris's story in the movie so all we know about her origins is that she was created by a company called Empathix. The name speaks for itself. It so happens that she is not the only robot in the film but Patrick (Lukas Gage) is one too, and then there's the woman at the end whom Iris waves off.
While Iris is a robot in the film, she showcases more human qualities than most of the characters. That is true for Patrick too. Both of them fall in love with their partners but things get complicated as events unfold.
Empathix created Iris and other robots in Companion
As far as details for Empathix go, we should say it's a drop in the bucket. But Empathix would be the organization behind these robots, as we see that a couple of technicians arrive later in the film to collect the remains of Iris. Sadly, only one of them survives.
It seems like Empathix delivers to their customers and they, with proper software so that the owner doesn't lose their companion. For one, we have this application that controls the intelligence levels of a robot. One can literally do the things that a monkey does, or at the same time, make them a genius.
Interestingly, their products are meant to deliver no harm but Josh (Jack Quaid), her boyfriend (or Empathix's customer), finds a way around to jailbreak Iris. This essentially breaks one of the laws of robotics Sir Isaac Asimov gave us in his stories.
The future where Companion is set is lonely
Technology certainly has advanced in the film, but so has loneliness. At least that appears to be the case if this is the only movie and if we aren't getting a sequel. That only explains a future where people are turning towards robots to get into a relationship.
It becomes evident during the mid-credits scene, which is, again, joyous and chilling at the same time. While it is joyous for one reason, the latter feeling resonates with a couple of them.
Iris is finally free as she is headed somewhere in Sergey's (Rupert Friend) car with millions in cash. That's a reason we can call it a joyous moment.
Then Iris is seen waving her metal hand towards a woman having a striking resemblance. Now she's with a man who seemingly has some aggressive behavior while talking over the phone. That implies this woman (or a companion robot) is down for some toxicity like Iris experienced with Josh. That's chilling.
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It again brings us to the times the film's events are likely taking place, in a distant future. If a rich man is going for robots, that indeed hints at a lonely future overrun by these bots manufactured by companies like Empathix.
Now there's no sequel planned for it, but if it does come to fruition, we hope to see companions like Ana de Armas' Joi from Blade Runner 2049 (2017) rather than Kristanna Loken's gynoid T-X from Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003).
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