Plot
Josh and his new girlfriend Iris head to a weekend getaway with his best friend Kat, her creepy Russian boyfriend Sergey – and their other friend Eli and his boyfriend Patrick.
When Sergey’s ‘intentions’ on Iris go awry – a secret plan is uncovered – as well as the true identity of Iris.
Direction
Directed by Drew Hancock, in his directorial debut.
The mixture of ‘new age’ as well as classic is well done, as well as the homage to several ‘genre adjacent’ films is spot on.
Cast
Sophie Thatcher is the real star of the film as Iris, the ‘woman’ with a secret so deep even she doesn’t even know.
Jack Quaid is solid as always as Josh, who brings several of his other roles into one.
Other cast include Lukas Gage as Patrick, Megan Suri as Kat, Harvey Guillen as Eli and Rupert Friend as Sergey.
Breakdown
Starting like most love stories do, we get the ‘meet cute’ of Iris and Josh, who meet in the produce department of a supermarket. There is some interesting dialogue at the background from Iris who mentions that this was the best day of her life (second only to *** spoiler *** the day she kills him???). Considering what transpires later, I really wish they omitted this part – because down the line, yes she does kill him – but had they omitted this, it would have made the surprises of what comes much more surprising!!!
The story revolves around a weekend getaway to Josh’s best friend Kat’s boyfriend Sergey’s house. Kat isn’t that fond of Iris, which is painfully obvious with her passive aggressive tone and language (a bit of foreshadowing). Others are more welcoming like Josh’s other friend Eli, and his boyfriend Patrick. Speaking of meet cute, Eli and Patrick’s is just as adorable (something that will make more sense at around the halfway mark of the film). If you didn’t know any of the secrets going in, then that is something that will make the whole viewing experience much better… and for the sake of this review – I’d stop reading now…
The first morning away, Sergey tries to make a move on Iris, forcing himself on her – but she has a weapon of Josh’s on her, and protecting herself, kills Sergey in self defense. This is where we the audience discover that Iris is a robot… but Iris discovers she is a robot too!!! And the killing of Sergey was planned all along by Josh, Kat and Eli in order to take his $12m in his safe. Then when the trio argue over how to split it, three ways or four (because Patrick…) we discover Patrick is a robot too!!! This one I didn’t see coming, but really should have.
What follows is really a clever discussion of robots rights, the rise of AI, and how men view women (and men view men) etc.
Quaid brings to the table several of his former roles, Hughie in The Boys, Nate in Novocaine and Richie in Scream, as the film progresses. He is lovelorne in one moment, and psychopathic murderous in another. Just another example of him trying to shed his ‘nepo-baby’ namesake – and become his own. In my opinion, he absolutely has.
Sophie Thatcher is really the star of the movie, she gets top billing and deservedly so. She is brilliant as the unaware accomplice in the plan – who becomes self aware – and able to ‘learn’. There are a few key scenes where she gives it her all, and the ‘candle scene’ is the prime example of her talent.
The screenplay is off the charts funny, and I found myself laughing out loud more times than I can count. One moment later in the film, where Josh has reprogrammed Patrick – and has changed the ‘meet cute’ to himself and Patrick (with the same meet cute that Patrick and Eli had) is just hilarious.
It also plays great homage to other robot movies, especially T2 – for the shear fact that you need to not know the secret going in, and then there are more ‘not so subtle’ moments like Iris’ exoskeleton hand – and Patrick dressing up as a cop… like the T100… played by Robert Patrick… see it’s clever!!!
Overall
Solid thriller, with some great twists and turns.
The performances of Thatcher and Quaid are really what sell this.
A strong recommend.
4/5
