Joey Magidson
Relationships take a lot of work. They take work to make sure that you’re keeping the other person happy, as well as to make sure you don’t lose yourself within them. The bonding that a couple does is wonderful, at least until it becomes codependency. That very real fear for folks is taken as a very literal inspiration for Together, another top notch horror film this year. 2025 is becoming the year of the scary movie, as this is another excellent one.
Together is a creative take on the body horror genre, as well as a commentary on codependent relationships. Plus, having a real-life couple in the lead roles adds a bit of mystery to things, as well as verisimilitude. The things happening are gory and wild, but perhaps some of the feelings could be real? It’s part of what elevates this fright flick into being not just very good, but absolutely great. Plus, there’s an all-timer of a musical needle drop in the third act, as well as a moment of body horror that will have everyone in the audience cringing.
Tim (Dave Franco) and Millie (Alison Brie) have been together for a while. Their relationship no longer has a spark, so much so that, when Millie proposes to Tim at their going away party to celebrate their move from the city to the country, he hesitates. That only adds more tension to their partnership, which has suffered due to his parental trauma and lack of progression with his music career. The move to the country isn’t just so Millie can get a teaching job, it’s also a fresh start.
Once the move is made, Tim immediately feels isolated, while Millie makes a friend in fellow teacher Jamie (Damon Herriman). On Jamie’s advice, they begin to explore the area, getting caught in a rainstorm during a hike. An accident has them taking shelter in a collapsed church underground, one that has something very strange about it. One bad choice later and when they get out and get home, it’s clear that something is very wrong. The less said specifically the better, but whatever malevolent force they encountered has changed them, making physical contact both dangerous and necessary, with all of the expected gory results.
Alison Brie and Dave Franco are both very good here, having a blast getting to go wild in the horror genre. Brie and Franco are clearly using some personal shorthand, but they also keep you completely on the same page as them. She has her character trying a lot harder than he does, but he gives his part a puppy-like quality that helps to excuse some of his shittier behavior. It’s clear they’re enjoying this job as much as any they’ve ever had, and it shows. Aside from Damon Herriman, who’s very solid, the tiny cast includes Jack Kenny, Mia Morrissey, and Karl Richmond, but this is the Brie and Franco show.
Filmmaker Michael Shanks (interviewed here recently) does a wonderful job with his feature debut, showcasing confidence and creativity. Shanks is able to make the relationship at the core of his movie both specific and universal. Having a real-life couple at the center is just icing on the cake. Not only is his writing and direction precise, it also suggests a strong future ahead for him. The film is not just a calling card, but it’s one hell of a calling card, regardless. A scene in a bathroom stall will have you screaming, the aforementioned needle drop is aces, while the final shot is one you won’t be able to forget.
Together is exactly the kind of fun and gnarly horror movie that the summer always thrives with. I can’t wait to see what Shanks does next, while I hope Brie and Franco work together more in the future. Moreover, this is just the type of bloody good time that the genre can sometimes do. 2025 horror continues to be top drawer, with this effort among the year’s best so far.
SCORE: ★★★1/2
Comments
Loading…