Together (2025)

​“Together” stars Dave Franco, Alison Brie, Damon Herriman, and Mia Morrissey.  Released on July 30, 2025, the film tells the story of a couple encountering a supernatural incident with horrific consequences.

The film was written and directed by Michael Shanks in his directorial debut.  Shanks is known for directing the short films “Time Trap” and “Rebooted” as well as episodes of “The Wizards of Aus” and “The Slot”.  Relationships are often viewed as a couple sharing their love and sticking together through life’s challenges til death do they part.  However, this particular couple may have taken the latter part a bit too literally.  While it might not seem so bad if you truly love your partner, witnessing the situation firsthand may make you want to rethink that approach.  The last month of the summer season is once again upon us, meaning we’re getting a few late-summer cinematic treats to tide us over before awards season.  Before that, we have another piece of twisted horror cinema that made a splash at this year’s Sundance, thanks to its strong word-of-mouth about its unsettling concept.  This latest body horror film sees real-life married actors Dave Franco and Alison Brie discovering what happens when they take the idea of “sticking together” to a whole new level, complete with some body horror elements that may make you squirm with fear or delight.  Was it worthy of its seemingly twisted concept, or does it deserve to be torn apart?  Let’s find out.

The story centers around Tim (Franco) and Millie (Brie), a longtime couple facing a complicated moment in their relationship as they relocate to a secluded cabin in the countryside for Millie’s new teaching job.  During a hike, they stumble upon a mysterious cave and decide to spend the night inside.  After drinking from the pool within the cave, Tim and Millie begin to experience bizarre episodes that draw them physically closer to each other.  They eventually uncover that the cave harbors a mystical pool capable of inducing inexplicable intimacies in individuals, leading them to become irresistibly attracted and eventually fuse into one.  Tim and Millie must now seek a way to dispel the terrifying curse before they meet the same grim fate as previous victims.

The horror genre has undoubtedly enjoyed an impressive run this year, providing audiences with spine-chilling hits such as “Companion”, “The Monkey”, and “Sinners”.  While there have been a few misses to balance out the successes, I would argue that 2025 has proven to be another strong year for the genre, particularly with those elevated films that blend ambition with unsettling horror.  “Together” appeared to hold promise for continuing this trend, primarily due to its concept that aligns seamlessly with other body horror movies we’ve seen.  Personally, my exposure to body horror has been somewhat limited compared to other horror subgenres, like the supernatural.  However, when the opportunity arises, I seize the chance to appreciate how these films attempt to disturb me through the characters’ bizarre bodily transformations—emphasis on “bizarre”.  Unsurprisingly, “Together” is no different.  Considering my high tolerance for gore and grotesque visuals, I’m pretty much another ideal candidate to experience what they’re touting as “the best horror film of the year”, a tried-and-true phrase we’ve all heard countless times before.

“Together” is another horror film that’ll likely challenge audiences' expectations, and I’m not just talking about its body horror elements.  While there are specific scenes involving grotesque disfigurements that might churn people’s stomachs, they’re not the film’s primary draw.  Instead, these elements serve as a grounded, metaphorical drive to explore a couple’s troubled relationship as they grapple with their romantic connection.  Of course, it isn’t until their encounter with a mysterious curse emanating from a cave that they’re forced to confront their codependency.  Despite its horrific nature, “Together” resembles more of a romantic drama, illustrating the gradual decline of a couple’s intimacy, mainly due to personal issues, particularly Tim’s struggles with commitment.  If you remove the horror elements altogether, it could easily be perceived as a grounded, poignant romantic narrative.  However, that doesn’t make it a drawback, as the romance components offer a genuine mix of intimacy and authenticity that seamlessly coexists with the body horror genre.  The result is a masterful fusion of frights, affection, and even dark humor, underscoring Michael Shanks’ promising future in horror filmmaking through his immaculate vision.

The movie is a freaky-as-hell experience that faces the challenge of combining two different genres, much like its attempt to fuse the two main actors into one.  As mentioned earlier, the film combines elements of body horror and romantic drama, with the latter being the most prominent aspect.  Those looking for a more traditional horror movie that throws jump scares at them every few minutes would likely have their patience tested by its overall focus on the romance element.  Fortunately, Michael Shanks, through his adept direction and screenplay, expertly kept the progressively struggling relationship captivating by crafting characters that are both complex and genuine.  This approach makes the interspersed body horror segments not only more rewarding but also devilishly fun.  Additionally, it provided a well-crafted and ambitiously thoughtful exploration of human codependency, skillfully circumventing predictable plot points that could have split the movie apart.  While its bold ending might not appeal to everyone, it effectively underscored the central theme without relying on the clichéd endings typical of many horror films.  I was also quite surprised at how funny it was, despite its ominous tone.  Although not a dark comedy, there were a few occasions where I wound up laughing at some of its darker and tense moments, such as the bathroom stall scene.  Its humor could have risked disrupting the overall mood, but Shanks masterfully ensured that the darkly amusing moments were subtle and natural, avoiding any discordant or misplaced humor that might have transformed it into a different movie.

Regarding everything else in Shanks’ vision, “Together” is another testament to a filmmaker who understands the art of the jump scare.  On certain occasions, the film leveraged its frightening elements to build dramatic tension, while on others, it employed classic jump scare techniques reminiscent of traditional horror films.  Fortunately, the latter approach was executed effectively, avoiding the pitfall of becoming a scare-free nuisance, primarily due to the convincing and genuinely terrifying nature of its scares and imagery.  It’s the balance between horror and suspense that enhances the film’s seemingly straightforward narrative and creates a continuous sense of enjoyment rooted in the terror and grotesquerie of human merging.  The body horror elements were also a testament to Shanks’ expertise, as he utilized the atmospheric settings and eerie color palettes to complement the film’s nightmarish mood.  The visual effects significantly contributed to envisioning the grotesque imagery, which is rewardingly unsettling without being excessively graphic.  Specific films involving body horror did have some issues about crossing the line into overly disturbing territory, making them difficult for modern audiences to watch.  However, Shanks demonstrated restraint, as he carefully balanced the dramatic tension with the worrisome nature of the film’s imagery, ensuring it remains frightening enough to provoke a visceral reaction without veering heavily into gratuitous territory.  This is another example of a horror film that maintains engagement with its unsettling content while avoiding crossing into the realm of excessive gore akin to torture porn.

I also commend the film for its exceptional editing, masterfully executed by Sean Lahiff.  His work not only ensured a seamless flow throughout the film’s 102-minute duration but also highlighted the dual essence of beauty and terror inherent in its theme.  A particularly memorable example that stuck with me was the bathroom scene, where Tim’s episode caused him to be dragged around the shower, paralleling Millie driving away from the house.  This sequence stood out as one of the film’s highlights due to Lahiff’s ability to seamlessly intertwine the characters’ motions despite their disparate locations, achieved through precise and sharp transitions.  This technique significantly amplified the film’s heart-pounding suspense, giving the audience a visceral understanding of the mysterious phenomenon’s potential impact as the story unfolds.  It also demonstrated the remarkable cinematic craft of the film’s shockingly haunting imagery, paired together by Germain McMicking’s outstanding cinematography.  When these elements are combined with the film’s effectively somber atmosphere, “Together” is another captivating exemplar of how traditional genre elements can be skillfully infused with filmmaking craftsmanship in synchronized harmony.

Another strong selling point was undoubtedly its leads, Dave Franco and Allison Brie.  As a married couple in real life, the pair brings a natural authenticity and genuine romantic energy to their on-screen chemistry in “Together”.  However, the film wisely didn’t rely solely on this dynamic, as their performances were crucial in portraying a believable yet imperfect relationship.  The duo excelled in this regard, making their characters’ struggles feel real and relatable.  Dave Franco was excellent in his role as Tim, a musician hesitant to take the next step in his relationship.  His portrayal effectively balanced the human vulnerability and anxiety that define Tim’s character, showcasing Franco’s versatility beyond his typical comedic roles.  Allison Brie was also stellar as the perplexed Millie, who questioned her boyfriend’s uncertainties, further enhancing the endearingly genuine chemistry with Franco.  Their interactions, whether filled with love, drama, or even intimacy, resonated with authenticity, largely because their performances and connection transcended the typical actor dynamic to embody the essence of a real couple.  The fact that Franco and Brie are married in real life unsurprisingly contributed to the depth of their on-screen chemistry, making their relationship more convincing.  Damon Herriman also did a solid job portraying Jamie, one of the teachers at an elementary school where Millie works.  Although Jamie’s motivations may seem predictable to viewers, Herriman made the most of his efforts to make his character believable.

Overall, “Together” seamlessly blends intense body horror and intimate romance to deliver a delightfully eerie fusion of cinematic craft and ambitious storytelling.  Calling it the “best horror film of the year” may be debatable based on people’s expectations.  Nevertheless, it undeniably stands out as another exceptional addition to the horror genre, presenting a thoughtful narrative that’s as enjoyable and rewarding as its chilling portrayal of subtle grotesqueness.  Dave Franco and Allison Brie exhibit exceptional chemistry, blending their real-life marriage with genuine intimacy in their magnetic performances.  As for writer/director Michael Shanks, his balanced direction and brilliant screenplay combine to make a stellar directorial debut, positioning him as another promising candidate in the realm of horror.  With effective scares, Sean Lahiff’s skilled editing, and superb cinematography, the film offers a freaky and highly entertaining experience that’ll likely stick to me like glue for a considerable time.  If you appreciate body horror films and enjoy Franco and Brie’s previous works, this movie is worth sticking with, especially when viewing it with a crowd.

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