IMDb
By Keith Walther
Real life couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco team up to make a rather unforgettable film that is both unique and familiar. “Together” is a new body horror movie that takes codependency to the extreme. Graphic and unsettling imagery propelled by outstanding acting breathes life into the well-written story.
Fully ensnarled in the grips of romantic complacency, Tim (Dave Franco) and Millie (Alison Brie) struggle to reignite the passion they once had for each other. Despite the obvious issues in their relationship, Millie accepts a teaching job in a rural community well outside of New York City, and Tim reluctantly decides to sacrifice his own livelihood as a musician to make the move with her. Looking to improve their connection by connecting with nature, the fractured couple set out on a fateful hike in the wilderness that will forever change their lives.
Falling into a sinkhole, they discover the remnants of a place of worship and a suspicious well of water. Thirsty, Tim drinks from this well, creating an unnatural force in his body that compels him to be close to Millie. As inexplicable events occur within his own skin that seems to want to combine with Millie’s, the duo are forced to confront the growing animosities between them and their love for one another before they become forever transformed.
This is the directorial debut of Michael Shanks, who also wrote the screenplay, and he successfully fuses a relationship-in-peril narrative with body horror. There are definite similarities to last year’s overrated success, “The Substance,” especially in terms of the “you are one” concept. The sickening, gratuitous grotesquerie involving the visceral conjoining is eerily similar, but that is where the similarities end. Shanks avoids the glaring filmmaking mistakes and continuity errors that were made in “The Substance,” and presents a cohesive, thoughtful plot that at least makes “Together” a lot more sense to viewers.
Now, it is worth noting that there is a lawsuit against Michael Shanks and NEON for copyright infringement, detailing that it is a blatant rip-off of the 2023 independent film “Better Half.” While the accusations may be disturbing, Shanks demonstrates solid filmmaking technique, utilizing clever cinematography and practical effects that put audiences in a constant state of unease. At the same time, he incorporates a quirky sense of humor that constantly transitions viewers from a state of disgust to surprising laughter. It may not invoke terror like true horror films, but it does generate a unique brand of entertainment that is unforgettable.
Married since 2017, Dave Franco and Alison Brie provide perfect on-screen chemistry that make their scenes together riveting and relatable. Best known for his ongoing role in the “Now You See Me” movies, Franco shows that despondency that can take root in a long relationship, simply agreeing to his partner’s wishes and swallowing his discontent for the sake of ease in perpetuating the dysfunctional romance. Meanwhile, Brie (“GLOW”) does an outstanding job of demonstrating her character’s obliviousness to his detachment, simplifying their problems to just needing a change of scenery to get their spark back. As their characters are faced with the truth about their love while terrified about this supernatural force bringing them closer together, literally, their undeniable chemistry really shines in their reactions and interactions with each other.
Body horror films like this one are not for everyone, but with an interesting, multi-layered storyline and a perfect pairing of its two stars, this is one worthy of attention. For those undaunted by graphic images, “Together” makes for a perfect date movie that will certainly stick with you. Just don’t grip your date too tightly.
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