Together (2025) - Film Review

      **Together, 2025**

      Written and Directed by Michael Shanks.

      Starring Dave Franco, Alison Brie, Damon Herriman, Mia Morrissey, Karl Richmond, Jack Kenny, Francesca Waters, Aljin Abella, Sarah Lang, Rob Brown, Ellora Iris, Tom Considine, and Melanie Beddie.

      **SYNOPSIS:**

      Years into their relationship, Tim and Millie face a turning point as they relocate to the countryside. With tensions already high, an encounter with an unnatural force threatens to disrupt their lives, love, and very beings.

      Relationships are complex. Michael Shanks' feature debut, Together, presents a gruesome body horror premise to explore this theme; it offers boundless opportunities as we see what unfolds for long-time couple Tim and Millie (played by real-life partners Dave Franco and Alison Brie) after they accidentally become trapped in a subterranean cave filled with religious symbols and mystical water.

      This concept is perfectly designed to terrify any couple choosing the film for a date night, while also effectively injecting humor, thanks to the lead actors, but it ultimately does not fully exploit the potential for something truly wild. Additionally, some subplots regarding the small-town lore (where the couple, being city transplants, face both benefits and challenges in their relationship) and a cult seem unnecessary by the climax, detracting from the romantic tensions.

      The ending feels more like a logical resolution (more so pertaining to what can be achieved within the body horror aspect, though it makes sense narratively), which may lack the shock value one would expect, especially given recent offerings in the sub-genre that have set a high bar. The budget constraints limit the ability to effectively use digital effects, raising creative questions since the filmmakers managed to create disturbing makeup effects in several earlier scenes. Nonetheless, the film remains entertaining, serving as a reminder that following a familiar path isn’t necessarily a negative. Claims of plagiarism against Michael Shanks will likely be hard to substantiate; it's easy to believe that multiple writers could arrive at similar ideas and scenes once the concept is introduced.

      While Together is inventive and grotesquely amusing, it leaves some room for improvement, as it tends to be somewhat predictable and does not fully weave its various elements into a cohesive whole. One could argue that the film does not even require a mystical aspect to explain why Tim and Millie are sometimes compulsively drawn to each other, resulting in painful encounters. The film provides enough information about both characters, including the strengths and flaws in their relationship, allowing the themes to somewhat speak for themselves. In some instances, the dialogue leans too heavily into these themes.

      Regarding the protagonists, Tim is somewhat lost, having aspired to be a rock star, but the likelihood of that happening diminishes daily. On the other hand, Millie has been offered a more rewarding teaching position a couple of hours away in the countryside, which allows for fewer students and more personalized time to help them learn and progress. Tim exhibits commitment issues, essentially freezing when Millie proposes in front of their friends before their move. Notably, one of Tim's bandmates, who is also Millie's brother, remarks that he thought their relationship would make her less dull, but it has instead turned him into that.

      After the unfortunate proposal, Tim and Millie begin to reassess their relationship, while backstory involving Tim unfolds, including a tragic death and a mother who appears mentally unstable, existing mainly to highlight yet another theme, which seems particularly pronounced: sometimes, you don't immediately notice decay, much like with relationships. This also serves as an excuse for integrating nightmare sequences early on, which often fall flat in most films but are acceptable here due to some chilling visuals accompanying the jump scares.

      Tim's hesitation during the proposal also leads to some passive-aggressive tendencies towards Millie, as he questions whether he is genuinely in love with her or simply trapped in their situation, feeling as if the spark has diminished. There also seems to be a hint of jealousy regarding Millie's successful pursuit of her passions, while he, despite her support (he lacks a driver's license, but she is willing to drive him to train stations so he can still perform), feels he is failing more each day.

      Thus, the body horror in Together cleverly investigates whether they should remain together, are stuck together, and the difficulties of letting go. It should be noted that this often unfolds with humor, though not unexpectedly. Dave Franco and Alison Brie fully commit to the premise, with Franco delivering some nuanced dramatic moments amid the horror; even as he may doubt himself, he maintains his belief in her when they confront the supernatural force threatening to take over their bodies. During moments of fear, Tim’s feelings for Millie resurface. Unfortunately, Alison Brie has to contend with the more eye-rolling dialogue, despite delivering a similarly strong, conflicted performance as she grapples with the idea that they are