Together (United States/Australia, 2025)

In the realm of body horror, few names loom larger than the venerable David Cronenberg. Together, a collaboration between writer/director Michael Shanks (in his feature debut) and real-life spouses Alison Brie and Dave Franco, would likely find favor with Cronenberg. Yet the film takes a notably kinder, gentler approach to themes the legendary filmmaker frequently explored. While firmly rooted in body horror, Together is equally about romance and relationships. Its central theme of commitment and togetherness unfolds both psychologically and physically, in a way that’s compelling and ultimately unpredictable. Though there are some narrative hiccups, its emotional core elevates it beyond mere cringeworthy gore.

When we first encounter the film's central couple, Millie (Brie) and Tim (Franco), they have been together for quite some time and are about to move to a rural community to give Millie access to her dream job. Although Tim outwardly shows signs of being supportive, the relocation prompts him to re-examine his commitment to their partnership. This phase of the movie, which represents perhaps its first quarter, is all about establishing the characters and their circumstances. Horror elements – like the prologue with dogs or the unsettling scene in which Tim discovers the source of an unpleasant odor – are mixed in to remind viewers that this isn't just a relationship drama.

Once the lengthy setup is done, we get to the meat of the story, which involves a strange substance that, once ingested, has harrowing effects. Tim, who unwisely drinks from an underground pool, finds himself drawn to Millie like iron to a lodestone. Separation causes him physical pain and a dissociation from reality. And, when the two are together, intimacy results in some very undesirable effects as his body attempts to merge with hers…literally. Then there's the friendly/creepy neighbor, Jamie McCabe, who is played in such a way by Damon Herriman that we know he's not just a random secondary character.

As befits a low-budget endeavor, Together doesn't employ sophisticated special effects when demonstrating the body-altering implications of Tim's condition. Although I'm sure CGI was used to some degree, it appears that the filmmakers relied more on "old school" tricks like makeup and prosthetics. Are they convincing? Probably not as much as top-notch computer work might have been but that's the point. Although Together wouldn't be averse to causing the average audience member to shudder and perhaps momentarily look away, it doesn't want to generate walk-outs. The gore is limited and the camera doesn't linger on the most unsettling images. The film's effects work is convincing enough to tell the story without crossing too far over a "gross-out" line.

There's an explanation, of course. The movie wouldn’t have worked without one. This is where many less conventional horror films often fall apart because the mystique is often shattered by the revelation of the underlying truth. That doesn't happen in Together. The film builds toward a different kind of resolution. There's something almost poetic about the simple final scene. Are there holes? Of course, but it's possible to enjoy the movie without worrying too much about them.

Arguably, the film's core strength is the chemistry between the leads. Brie and Franco have been together for over a decade so their off-screen relationship effectively bleeds into the movie's fabric. Their interactions are relaxed and natural. It's not that actors with no off-screen involvement can't "fake it," but there's a level of comfortable believability to how Millie and Tim interact that transcends mere performance. For Together to work, the audience has to be invested in the relationship and accept the way it ebbs and flows.

I won't claim the movie is going to widen the appeal of body horror because this is, first and foremost, about some very unsettling changes that occur to both leads. There are jump scares. There are some shocks. And the tone and setting are pure Horror 101. But for those who aren't put off by these things – or embrace them wholeheartedly – Together offers an unexpectedly human framework.

Together (United States/Australia, 2025)