Together Review: Grotesque Effects Elevate This Relationship Nightmare

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Horror films have consistently provided platforms to delve into real-life apprehensions using intensified scenarios. Following the reign of ’80s and ’90s slasher flicks and teen-centric terrors, the 2000s witnessed a surge in found-footage and gory horror productions. However, the 2010s marked a renaissance, mirroring societal concerns. Movies like “The Babadook,” “Get Out,” and “It Follows” were groundbreaking due to their exploration of profound themes beyond mere jump scares, giving birth to the (somewhat awkwardly named) “elevated horror” genre. Michael Shanks’s “Together” offers a unique blend: it serves as an unsettling metaphor for codependency and toxic relationships while also providing a visceral, squirm-worthy body-horror experience.

Through a fresh job prospect, Millie and Tim (the on-screen couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco, who are also producers), relocate from urban life to a more rural setting, near schools where Millie can foster stronger connections with her pupils, although this move distances them from gigs that could boost Tim’s musical advancement. Venturing into their local woodland, the duo accidentally discovers a mystical cave, drawing them closer together to navigate the night. Although they manage to exit the cave, their bond deepens in an unanticipated manner, as they find themselves under the strange gaze of enigmatic forces.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but admire Shanks, the film’s writer, for his openness about the movie’s origins in his personal life with his wife. The genius move was to cast real-life couple Brie and Franco as the on-screen pair grappling with their issues. Their chemistry is undeniably natural, yet it’s enriched by subtle hints of history and tension that only long-term partners can bring to the screen, making each scene feel raw and authentic.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I’ve always appreciated films that delicately weave character complexities before plunging into the main plot. In this movie, the audience is subtly introduced to the disparate paths of the two protagonists – Tim, grappling with the loss of his parents, and Millie, pursuing seemingly ordinary professional goals. Yet, from my perspective, Millie’s career-focused choices could be seen as a stabilizing force amidst Tim’s turmoil.

The creative team masterfully employs everyday situations to hint at the couple’s disconnect – proposals in social settings, unintentional remarks about being trapped, or prioritizing material possessions over relationships. The trio of Shanks, Brie, and Franco skillfully portray these moments, making them feel organic, authentic, and incredibly tense – almost as nerve-wracking as the more terrifying events to come later in the storyline.

In a different approach, the three artists could have delved deeper into the symbolic aspect of the plot throughout the film, creating an engaging movie experience. However, the story takes a turn towards the climax in the third act, revealing that this situation is far more complex than just anger manifesting. We’ll avoid discussing the disturbing scenes within the movie, but as the subtext becomes text, these characters appear lost in their lives, leading to a series of unsettling visual representations of their struggles. The story maintains an element of absurdity by blending satirical black comedy with horror elements, which is commendable given Shanks’s script and ability to manage the film’s overall tone.

One reason horror movies are so powerful in reflecting real-life anxieties is they force viewers to consider how they’d react in similar scenarios. In the movie “Together“, it becomes challenging to decide whether Millie and Tim’s fate is good or bad, despite their relationship seeming problematic. Viewers who have experienced relationships can identify with parts of their dynamic, no matter its significance. The film seems designed to make viewers reevaluate their relationships, particularly since the first half appears more symbolic while the second half is more literal. However, the movie’s intent may be to pose questions without providing answers, leading to a thought-provoking experience that can feel frustrating because it leaves us without definitive conclusions. The film also purposefully withholds explanations for the mythological aspects of the story, offering only enough intrigue without overwhelming us with excessive details.

In his debut as a feature director, Shanks appears to have skillfully combined elements from beloved genre movies into a unique blend. The film offers the ominous atmosphere of a poisonous camaraderie seen in ‘Midsommar’, the claustrophobic suspicion reminiscent of ‘Bug’, and a generous dose of body-focused horror similar to any work by David Cronenberg, John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’, and Brian Yuzna’s ‘Society’. While seasoned horror enthusiasts may recognize these influences, ‘Together’ does not mimic these experiences; instead, it serves as a testament to the masterful execution of its forerunners.

In the movie, Shanks skillfully managed to intertwine symbolic and concrete storylines, but the portrayal of the grotesque physical transformations may have detracted from its impact. While practical effects and puppetry were utilized sparingly, the story necessitated a heavy use of CGI, resulting in scenes that were theoretically disturbing but visually disorganized. A sequence that might initially intrigue viewers but ultimately disappoint fans is the lead-up to the creative application of a reciprocating saw, only to find that the violent aftermath is never shown.

As a movie enthusiast, I must admit that Shanks didn’t disappoint when it came to creating spine-chilling scenes. In fact, he succeeded in delivering quite a few that sent shivers down my spine. The opening scene, for instance, was incredibly effective with minimal dialogue and just a few minutes, while other terrifying sequences and unsettling glimpses of the body performing uncomfortable acts all worked wonders. What makes it more frustrating is when Shanks doesn’t fully deliver on the tension and suspense he builds in some scenes, as his talent for creating such atmospheres is undeniable. However, at times, it seems like he falls short of reaching the climax, despite having the ability to do so – it’s just that occasionally, he doesn’t quite stick the landing.

Despite “Together” not being an unqualified success, it’s a remarkable debut for Shanks, along with collaborators Brie and Franco, skillfully creating a film that is both unsettling and introspective. Audiences can either embrace the surface-level scares and move on once the end credits play, or they might find themselves pondering their personal relationships whether they wished to or not. If “Together” is just the beginning of Shanks’s filmmaking journey, we eagerly anticipate what heights he will reach next.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Together lands in theaters on July 30th.

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2025-07-28 19:10