Director: Michael Shanks
Writer: Michael Shanks
Stars: Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Damon Herriman
Synopsis: A couple’s move to the countryside triggers a supernatural incident that drastically alters their relationship, existence, and physical form.
Michael Shanks’ Together will likely be the best horror-comedy of the year. Is that a surprise though? It’s got a solid body horror premise. There’s the winning combination of Alison Brie and Dave Franco. It’s a film about love and how baffling it can sometimes be! Wrap that all together, and Shanks’ feature film debut will have won you over from its intriguing opening. Although it plays out in standard horror fashion, it makes a bold promise that brings to mind films like The Thing and From Beyond. As soon as it’s clear that Shanks won’t be afraid to break the rules of horror, genre fans will feel as if they’re in capable hands. And based on the riotous events that occur in Together, that assurance is proven correct.
We meet Millie (Brie) and Tim (Franco) at their going-away party. After years milling around the city, the ever-focused Millie has taken a teaching job in the country and lost puppy dog Tim is tagging along for the move. He’s an aspiring musician who is planning on dropping a self-released EP. The key word is planning, as one gets the sense that Tim, despite being a charmer, doesn’t have the most drive. While Tim catches up with Millie’s brother, he unkindly points out that rather than Tim making Millie more fun, Milllie just made him less cool. Shanks’ film works because the film makes clear that that’s completely false. Franco obviously brings a charm to this character so he’s not too unlikable, but he most definitely is grating. All it takes for that realization is to hear Millie update her friend on some of the recent troubles they have been having as a couple. Even before that, Millie adorably points out that all the guests love how the two of them are wearing similarly-styled outfits. Tim’s reaction is more than enough to elicit a groan. So upon hearing the genuine issues they’re facing, Shanks’ script shines even further in how he depicts the two of them in this first act.
Despite the frustrations both sides of the relationship feel regarding one another, there’s palpable love. They’re adorable together. Of course, it helps to have a real-life couple at the center of this two-hander. The chemistry is clear and it carries this film a long way. It’s not a shock to see that these two remain together in the hopes of reclaiming what once was. It’s in their baked-in chemistry as performers that allow the sharper elements of the script to really shine. They do their best to put on the show of a perfect couple in front of guests, but the not-so-subtle jabs at one another sting. It reveals the underlying problem Together is so interested in, but also makes for awkward comedic beats that work great. Beyond that past love that they’re holding onto for dear life, there’s a lot of built-up resentment, anxieties, fears, and even selfishness that’s being internalized. Before the film even really settles into its full horror premise, there’s nightmarish sequences that, while again occasionally familiar, work quite well. They operate wonderfully as jump scares, but like any great horror, they put a literal face on whatever internal dilemma our characters may be facing.
Starting her new job knowing absolutely nobody, she meets Jamie (Damon Herriman), a fellow teacher who holds out a kind, and perhaps flirtatious, olive branch. While discussing what brought her to the new school, he exclaims how exciting her reply was in reminding him that passion is still possible. While it’s in reference to teachers who genuinely want to bring positive change to the lives of children, it can also be taken as a nod to the lost passion Millie feels in her relationship. There’s another clear-cut metaphor Shanks makes use of to depict how this relationship has made the two feel.
Tim details a story from his childhood where a rotting rat carcass was stuck in his ceiling. Due to it occurring so gradually, he simply became accustomed to the rotting smell. The deeper Shanks brings us into the relationship of these two, the link is clear. The frustrations Tim and Millie have amongst one another are now being wrapped into being seen as pillars of their relationship. They have intertwined these negative aspects with the love they shared from one another, forcing themselves to put up with it rather than ever face the issue. It’s an upsetting notion to see anybody fall into but will certainly be relatable to some. As is made literal in the film, being together can feel like carrying dead weight if both parties aren’t committed. At one point in the film, a character details what the ultimate intimacy in a relationship is. It’s a warped way of thinking about relationships. But Together explores both sides of its own argument, in turn making for a compelling and thought-provoking film.
In the end, Together doesn’t shame either solution it presents to its audience. On one hand, there’s nothing wrong with wanting a bit more space. Understandable amounts of separation provide more room for love to exist. On the other hand, completely turning oneself over to another person is exciting! It can also be completely freeing, providing you the ability to be your complete self with another person. To quote the great body horror of 2024, you must respect the balance. Together is a twisted, f**ked up romance that’s all about taking the plunge and seeing what works out best in the end!
Together is celebrating its world premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in the Midnight category.
