“Companion” is a film full of surprises.

Writer/director Drew Hancock has crafted a film with unexpected depth that is full of twists and turns that take the audience on a wildly entertaining – and thought-provoking – journey.

“Companion” begins with 20-something Iris (Sophie Thatcher following up her great work in “Heretic” with another nice turn) meeting Josh (Jack Quaid) in a supermarket.

It’s love at first site for the happy couple and we flash forward to a few months later where they head to a secluded weekend for a getaway with some of Josh’s friends – Eli (Harvey Guillén) and Patrick (Lukas Gage) – his ex-Kat (Megan Suri) and her new boyfriend, an eccentric Russian named Sergey (Rupert Friend).

An event best left unspoiled occurs, turning the happy weekend into something more sinister with Iris learning that she is actually a robot (a twist revealed in the film’s trailer) who is responsible for the tragic event.

As Iris tries to come to terms with this revolution and the group scrambles to clean up the mess, things get more convoluted.

From there, it is best to keep everything a mystery as part of the fun of “Companion” is the unexpected moments that change the landscape of the story in a flash. Along the way, Hancock’s film has a lot of smart things to say about artificial intelligence and toxic masculinity, allowing this to be more than just a blood bath sci-fi horror flick, but a film that has a message that will resonate with its target audience.

Thatcher is fantastic in the lead role – pulling off the tricky balance of displaying emotion from an entity that is essentially designed to be emotionless. She makes it easy for the audience to root for Iris, giving her the empathy needed to make this material work.

The supporting cast is very good as well, also asked to almost deliver multiple performances as their characters effectively transition with every twist and turn.

It all builds to a satisfying payoff – and a commendable finale where Hancock’s decision to shoot the film in the shadows allows the scene to remain effective without potentially crossing a line.

It’s that smart care from Hancock both behind the camera and with the pen that elevates “Companion” to another level. It’s a film that is a lot of fun, that has plenty of things to (effectively) say.

If You Go
“Companion”
Starring: Sophie Thatcher, Jack Quaid
Directed by: Drew Hancock
Rating: R for strong violence, sexual content and language throughout
Playing at: Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas (Glasgow)
Grade: B