Coming to theaters from Neon on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, Together marks a chilling new entry into the Body Horror genre that will have audiences gripping their seats in uneasy anticipation.
Written and directed by Michael Shanks (in his feature debut), the film stars real-life couple Dave Franco (The Disaster Artist 2017, Love Lies Bleeding 2024) and Alison Brie (The Rental 2020, Somebody I Used to Know 2023) as Tim and Millie—a loving but dysfunctional pair struggling to navigate the strains of a long-term relationship. Years into their partnership, their move to the countryside sets the stage for tensions to rise, and an encounter with an unnatural force soon threatens not only their love but the very fabric of their bodies.
Together stands out for its startlingly original concept—an unflinching, often grotesque metaphor for codependency that fuses emotional intimacy with physical Horror. Rather than relying on traditional scares, the film probes the anxieties of long-term relationships, questioning what it truly means to become “one” with another person.
At its core is the magnetic chemistry between Franco and Brie, whose real-life connection lends authenticity and emotional depth to their on-screen dynamic. Their performances crackle with tension, affection, and raw vulnerability, grounding the film’s surreal premise in something profoundly human and heartbreakingly relatable. The darker humor—often awkward, absurd, or darkly comic—lands particularly well thanks to the trust and rapport they build with each other and the audience.
Visually, the film stands out. Practical effects and CGI merge seamlessly to create disturbingly grotesque bodily transformations. The practical effects lend a tangible, organic quality to the monstrous changes, while the CGI enhances the more surreal and otherworldly moments. Along with masterful lighting, these elements combine to craft an immersive experience that is genuinely terrifying, intensifying the film’s relentless sense of anxiety and emotional unraveling.
Shanks expertly cultivates a pervasive atmosphere of dread throughout Together, utilizing eerie sound design and unsettling visuals to steadily build tension until it becomes almost unbearable. The carefully placed moments of humor provide necessary breathing room without detracting from the film’s emotional and physical intensity. This delicate tonal balance is impressive, especially for a feature debut.
The unsettling backstory further heightens the tension revealed about Tim, which adds layers to his increasingly erratic behavior. However, it is disappointing that Millie’s character development is thinner by comparison. While Brie brings nuance and depth to the role, the script often positions her more as a foil to Tim’s unraveling than as a fully realized character. A more balanced exploration of both partners’ inner lives would have made their descent into chaos even more impactful.
Despite its intense buildup, the film’s final act feels rushed. The climax rushes through major revelations and a Body Horror spectacle, leaving little room for the emotional and thematic threads to fully take hold. Some narrative turns—especially those involving the cult and its rituals—feel underexplored or overly reliant on exposition. The ending, while clever and thematically consistent, ultimately does not pay off as powerfully as hoped, suggesting that the film’s bold ideas deserved a more fully developed conclusion. That said, Together remains a wild, unforgettable ride—one well worth taking.
Together arrives amid a recent resurgence of Body Horror, a genre that has evolved to explore complex emotional and psychological themes rather than staying superficial. Romantic relationships are a hot topic right now, as dating grows increasingly complicated and true intimacy feels harder to find than ever. By intertwining the struggles of a long-term partnership with grotesque physical transformations, the film offers a fresh and unsettling metaphor for the challenges of connection and codependency.
While not without its flaws, Together makes a daring, creative statement. It firmly establishes Michael Shanks as a promising new voice in a genre that continues to resonate deeply in today’s cultural landscape—culturally sharp and viscerally wrenching. This is why Cryptic Rock gives Together 4 out of 5 stars.
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