User reviews

Going into this film completely blind is the play. Absolutely bonkers.

I appreciate an original horror story when it gets executed to perfection. Funny, cringey (in a good way) and downright absurd.

The story is interesting enough and follows cult/folk lore but the performances by Franco and Brie are the high point. Their chemistry is perfect and believable. The film highlights themes of co-dependency and fear of commitment in a truly insane way.

Granted, there are cliched moments that are usually present in the horror genre. And yes, such moments are in this film, but it definitely doesn't take away from the wild ride. This film reminiscences elements from "The Substance" but it warrants its own distinction.

Definitely up there with one of the best horror movies of the year.

I enjoyed it. It was a unique wtf horror/romance with some moments of humour. I thought Dave and Alison played their parts very well and as a real life couple it helped with their on screen chemistry. I hope they continue to do horror together because it worked. The story is pretty much spoiled in all the trailers but the ending caught me off a bit and the final scene before credits was a bit laughable and silly but overall I enjoyed the film and was glued to it til the end.

While some of the cliched tropes in the horror genre are sticked within it's narrative and characters, the original horror concept, great atmosphere, visual make-up designs and the strong performances from Dave Franco and Alison Brie offers a fun horror, comedy and body horror tale.

For a debut project, director Michael Shanks really captures the horrific and bonkers nature of the body horror genre. Raving with great atmosphere, practical effects (which some were grossly cringeworthy which succeeds on the good aspects about body horror), and the direction. The writing explores some interesting themes about relationships, dependency and how bonds can be a fear within the self of someone. While I do admit some aspects, especially the way how characters are approached and some of the elements feel cheesy, the narrative works for the most.

Franco and Brie has some great chemistry between one another, especially when the horror body elements are shown every time they are on screen. Although some of the dialogue moments were a bit strange, as a whole, the horror and body elements of this movie was successful.

Overall, a good Midnight movie.

I left the theater about 20-30 mins ago. Overall, I really liked it

The movie's premise is original, and there's a thoughtful message about relationships. The ending contains much ambiguity, which might not work for some. But I liked it. I think the film leaves a lot of room for interpretation about what happens. Whether the ending is happy or tragic, for example, is debatable, and even I feel that I could frame an argument for both sides.

I found both of the leads - Alison Brie and Dave Franco - to be great. Their acting is smooth, and their characters are likable enough as protagonists. They have great romantic chemistry (some might respond by saying, "Well duh, they're a real-life couple." But I've actually seen movies where real-life couples don't have on-screen chemistry; real-life relationships don't always translate on-screen. Both of them deserve credit for their performances in this movie).

The movie is billed as a horror/comedy. And I guess there are some dialogue and embarassing situations that could be taken as comedy. But as a whole, I really found the movie to be more of a straight horror. And there are some creepy and unsettling moments. The gore is also not as extreme as I had heard. I never grimaced or felt the need to look away; there's no reliance on shock in this movie. The movie's pacing is good, and the run-time is just right.

In terms of flaws -- the film introduces a friendly teacher at Alison Brie's job. The movie basically telegraphs that he knows more than he's letting on. There's a certain VHS scene that feels a little bit contrived; the film seems to jam that scene to explain stuff in as little time as possible. Additionally, I didn't quite grasp the backstory about Dave Franco's mother

Still - a very good movie. It's not a knock-off, but this movie reminded me quite a lot of The Substance because of the general vibe (as well as a certain monster) . If you liked The Substance, you'll definitely like this one.

10/10.

Body horror is a genre that can be difficult to nail. At its best, it is anxiety-inducing, disturbing, and off-putting, often beyond the point of enjoyment. It is horror, not because of the scary monsters or hidden nightmares, but because of the natural human unease towards bodies being bent and broken in ways they shouldn't. As a horror genre fan, I have become desensitized to most of the tactics used to scare in movies, but body horror, done right, never fails.

Together is almost that movie. It builds anxiety both through body horror and simple awkwardness, but just as it rises to the point of being unbearable, it breaks the tension, either with humor or romance. It does this well, but I was left feeling too comfortable, too comfortable for a movie purporting to be a genre based on the opposite. If they had leaned into the body horror more, unwilling to break, this could've been exceptional, but as it stands, I was left wanting.

For someone who is easily scared or is new to body horror, this film could be great. The humor and romance make it more approachable, but it also detracts from the horror. Certainly not a waste of time, but it sucks to see a film come so close only to miss the mark.

My girlfriend and I went to this movie as part of Landmarks mystery movie night. I found the movie really kept you guessing as to what direction it was going to go. I thought Franco and Brie were great for their respective roles. The movie took a turn halfway through that threw me off, but it brought me back in at the end.

Not a revolutionary horror movie by any means but I quite enjoyed it! Recommend for anyone that's interested in checking out an original and interesting horror movie with some depth. I have found myself thinking about the film over the past few days since I saw it. It has a good mix of themes and had a few good laughs.

A bit outlandish at times (maybe even most of the time) but nonetheless I found it entertaining. Check it out 🙂

I'll be honest when I say that the trailers never properly sold me on this movie, it made it seem like a completely different movie than what we got.

The concept is really unique. While there's been some chatter online about possible plagiarism, that's not my place to weigh in on. What I can say is that this film stands on its own with a bold and bizarre approach. The effects are striking, and some moments hit a level of fear and discomfort that really stays with you. It does an excellent job portraying anxiety and the disorienting terror of dreams that blur into reality.

Dave Franco delivers what might be his best performance to date, giving the character a desperate vulnerability that anchors the whole thing. Alison Brie complements him perfectly, and their chemistry helps ground the madness with emotional weight and some dark humour.

It's disturbing, oddly beautiful and full of surprises. If you're into surreal horror with emotional undercurrents and a touch of body horror, it's absolutely worth checking out.

It doesn't happen that often that we get genuinely fresh, original ideas in horror - and when it does, it feels so bloody good. 'Together' (2025) is exactly that. A grotesque, clever, and oddly funny little gem that had me cringing, laughing, and totally hooked the entire time.

The concept is unhinged in the best way: a couple moves to the countryside... and starts getting TOO attached. What unfolds is what I can best describe as a rom-com body horror (yes, really) that somehow makes co-dependency literal... and it weirdly works. So well.

Body horror isn't for everyone, but this is so well done. The practical effects are gnarly in the best way - just the right amount of gross to make your stomach turn while keeping you glued to the screen. It leans into the absurdity, but underneath the chaos is a surprisingly honest look at toxic love, compromise, and identity.

Alison Brie and Dave Franco are absolutely fantastic. You totally buy into them as a couple who love each other but maybe shouldn't be together. Or maybe should? I don't even know. That's part of the fun.

And I have to say - any film shot in Melbourne gets an automatic bonus point from me. There's something so satisfying about seeing our suburbs twisted into something this surreal.

Cringey in all the right ways. Disgusting in the best possible sense. 'Together' is one of the most original horror films I've seen in ages - and it will absolutely satisfy genre lovers looking for something bold, grotesque and new.

I love when Dave Franco and Allison Brie act together in a movie. They have great chemistry (duh) and some of the scenes where they had to be intimate seemed very real.

Together was fun, weird, had its dark humorous moments and the special effects were pretty good! It's original, there's plot points that are a bit predictable, but overall I do think it was original.

I honestly really liked the story. I try not to watch trailers close to opening day because they show more for some reason.

At the end of the day, this movie is going to be polarizing. You'll either love that it or hate it.

I loved it!

We were excited to see an early viewing and so pleased. This was a really enjoyable watch if you're looking for something grotesque and delightfully sick. Some story points were a bit predictable, but it was a truly unique experience and left my skin crawling. I found it to be a really enjoyable summer horror flick.

Rating - 6.9: Overall, a decent body horror movie that has well-executed horror sequences and good chemistry between Dave Franco and Alison Brie; but I personally wasn't a big fan of the conflict once it's revealed and thought the movie was very cringey at times.

Direction - Decent to Pretty Good: The direction on a macroscale takes influences from horror movies like "Hereditary" and "Barbarian" with how it builds the conflict and the world, but has some comedic flavors; the direction on a microscale is too corny and white-couple-centric that it was too cringey to sit through, though there were some humorous moments I did enjoy; the storytelling is similar to "Hereditary" and "Barbarian" in how it searches for the conflict, then goes full send after it is revealed; they build tension very well, especially when building up the body horror sequences

Story - Decent to Pretty Good: The concept is pretty unique and interesting, but I really wasn't that big a fan of the actual conflict once it is revealed; the plot structure is similar to "Hereditary" and "Barbarian" in the way the movie tries to build up to the conflict reveal, then goes full speed towards the climax once it hits the inflection point; the character writing is decent

Screenplay - Decent to Pretty Good: The dialogue is too cringey and very stereotypically white; the humor is pretty prevalent, mainly because of the director and actors' comedy backgrounds; the symbolism is there, but I don't know if I am too much of a fan of it; the foreshadowing is very good as the movie drops clues on what the conflict is, well in advance of its reveal

Acting - Pretty Good: Dave Franco - Decent to Pretty Good (Basically, he plays every character he always plays; he has good chemistry with Brie, mainly because they are actually married), Alison Brie - Pretty Good to Good (Really takes control of the movie as she has charisma and good screen presence; she has good chemistry with both main cast members, but especially with Franco), Damon Herriman - Pretty Good (He plays his role well and has good chemistry with Brie), Rest of the cast - Pretty Good (The cast is really small, but the main cast does work together well)

Score - Decent: Helps set tension and tone

Cinematography - Pretty Good: Feels well-shot, especially with the budget's size

Editing - Pretty Good: Feels well-edited, especially considering the budget's size

Sound - Pretty Good: Helps build tension

Visual Effects - Good: Despite its low budget, the visual effects blended with the practical effects help make this movie look realistic, especially in the body horror sequences

Makeup - Very Good: Done very well to help create the body horror sequences

Pacing - Pacing is two-pronged because it is slow toward the conflict reveal, then very fast afterward; while the pacing was intentional, I would have liked to have seen maybe 10 minutes cut from the buildup to the climax to make the movie feel more balanced

Climax - Climax is executed well, even the resolution is a little forced

Tone - The tone is very body horror but has comedic flavors

Final Notes - Saw the Texas premiere at SXSW.

'Together' had me reeled in up until the line snapped! Multiple creative visuals, tonal whiplash, and engrossing moments that suck the air out of the theater for better or worse. Dave Franco and Alison Brie certainly give their all for an outcome that ultimately feels lacking towards its finish line. Certain story beats become predictable, dialogue starts to overstay its welcome, and certain horror elements even begin to feel tiring. Great moments in the editing room, outstanding performances from the two leads, and seamless effects weren't enough to curb my appetite. The third act really starts to crumble and bites off more than it can chew with an uncanny ending that just didn't sit well with me. All in all, 'Together' is a technically crafted dud that justifies itself through imaginative moments of horror and showcases Brie and Franco's close dynamic in extreme execution but unfortunately doesn't muster up enough intrigue to infuse me.

"Humans were originally created with four arms, four legs and a head with two faces. Fearing their power, Zeus split them into two separate parts, condemning them to spend their lives in search of their other halves." Plato, The Symposium

Although the current horror film Together doesn't pretend to parse Plato's discourse on love, it relies heavily on the idea that true love is the comingling of minds and bodies that were once separated by Zeus out of envy. Tim (David Franco) and Millie (Alison Brie) spend time in a country house seeking to regain the passion they once had.

After a stroll that ends up in a cave (how very Platonic!), they devolve into maddened humans, literally getting under each other's skin. The visuals, even without excessive CGI, are body horror at its best, and allegorically land us in discussion about what love means and how it affects the struggling relationship the drama began with.

Thematically Together wishes to show how much the stressed couple loves each other, even willing to sacrifice their very flesh to reconcile their affections. No couple in the audience can ignore the commentary on the emotional demands of love, the millennial fear of commitment, and the strains that modern lonely life make on romance.

After all, Millie has sacrificed a higher teaching order to take a rural job while he is still at 35 years old trying to play in an indie-rock band. His intermittent impotency, while understandable given his lack of professional success, still seems like a major impediment to taking their love to the next level.

While treating the aud to some icky body horror, writer-director Michael Shanks comments on the challenges of modern living that needs the therapy of communal sharing, of overcoming horrors together to emerge from that cave together toward the future.

Went and saw it with family last night. We all love horror flicks. It was definently cool, weird, horrific and had an erie sick romantic edge about it.

The acting was perfect. The visual effects dynamic and haunting. Interesting story and completely unpredictable at all times.

Loved the miserable but devoted and not devoted love going on ad well.

LIKES: A Unique Concept Horrifying Elements Visual Magic Is Stunning Grotesque Factor Is The Scare The Cinema Work The Sound/Music The Story's Message The Acting Summary: If you've seen the trailers, you know this movie showed a lot of potential, being a contender for the unique movie idea of the year. True to the trailers, Together accomplishes this goal and grants you one of the most unique tales I've seen in a horror movie in some time. A truly horrifying concept, this movie is going to be a dream for those who love nightmare-inducing media, a film that takes some lore and twists it into something that accomplishes a very bizarre look at the concepts of relationships. How does an idea like this (which we have seen to an extent) come to life so memorably? It's in the cinema magic itself, primarily in the form of cinematography and visual effects. Shanks has a visual story, and seemed to write this movie with the angles in mind, because this film captures everything beautifully to convey the horrors of the force at hand. Day and night provide little relief for the safety of the elements at hand, and not relying on filters, the movie conveys the horrors at hand as the couple faces them. The ambiance is foreboding, but not cheesy, and the visual effects are designed to give a realistic shine to it that seldom dips into the fake components that we still have not mastered. Sound effects add to the horror, those subtle pops, creaks, groans, and various other sounds that are sickening and twisted as the story progresses, common sounds somehow inhumane when paired with the terrifying tricks they cooked up. Add a little atmosphere with the music, and the torturous treat of Together continues to deliver the flavor of a movie that will stick in your mind for a long time, including a famous pop song now somewhat ruined by this film. And if you haven't gotten the full effect of my review, this film's grotesque factor is the biggest selling point, much like the Substance popularized last year.

But such horrors are not enough to warrant positive movie reviews for me. Sure, they offer a large meat portion of the cinema sandwich, but they still require other garnishes to help put a point to their inclusion so as not to come off bland. This is where Shanks' writing helps as well, a moral introspective look at relationships and what makes them thrive or die. While not the most unique or thespian lines, the movie manages to integrate a lot of qualities that modern-day audiences may experience. Traumatic backgrounds hold some merit, which begins to drive a wedge into the relationship, and Shanks has not made it as annoying as other films have, but rather approachable. It doesn't become the entire merit, but instead an aspect, and when you use the developing problems to enhance it, and make it meaningful. A fantastic message, with all of this brought to life by strong performances by our two leads. Brie captures a role that is funny, yet dramatic, a transition that works well with the theme of this movie. Franco, on the other hand, has humor, but taps more into the dramatic side, offering some stunning delivery with his lines and facial acting. They complement each other so well, and I was impressed by much of their connection with one another. Perhaps another large portion of the feel of this movie, both actors are impressive in handling the oddity that is Together's material.

DISLIKES: Predictable Disturbing To Very High Degrees Pace Can Be Slow And Boring Crosses The Line Sometimes Could Have Used A Bit More Mystery Summary: Yet, the movie does have some limitations that are going to push this movie from a perfect ten for a lot of the audience members. For one thing, it's predictable. Any glimpse of the trailer and you'll get a lot of information to reveal what is going to happen to our main couple. The rest of the material has its places, but the foreshadowing is too obvious to be ignored, which means any surprise and mystery are at a loss. Even some of the story elements feel lackluster an afterthought, that could have gone further to make the story have a bit more bite and suspense. Alas, the movie instead focuses on the disturbing content, crossing lines that are going to be too evocative for the average viewer to enjoy. Weak stomachs should avoid this movie at all costs, and those who can be triggered by some of the realistic material should exercise caution as well. Finally, the pace is a tad slow at points, especially if you have predicted much of the movie like I did, which can extend a relatively short run time into a bit of a slog through the mud.

The VERDICT: The hype about Together is well placed when it comes to a lot of theatrical elements. Shanks has created a movie that has some of the most twisted visuals we've had in a while. Its visual and sound aspects are disturbing, a symphony of strangeness and a treat for the eyes that will make many shock-culture enthusiasts revel in delight. A story component that accompanies it helps give this adventure some merit and meaning, with performances to pull out the emotional depth of this movie to a surprisingly fun and authentic degree. Such a unique combination is rare, and for that, I applaud this movie's design. Where it might fail comes in how niche this movie is. Like the Substance, there is more than meets the eye, but the target is a finite clique of audience members that will appreciate this. The tale was too easily discerned for me, a slower burn that didn't fully utilize the story and mystery elements I would have liked to see. In addition, the film does cross lines that are a coin toss as to whether you will like them or not. Those looking for a very spectacular film with good production value are the prime audience to hit the theater, as the visual elements could justify. Most, I think, will need to save for a home viewing to maximize their money and time to make the decision to stick to the end. However, I think most are going to skip this film to avoid the potentially traumatic material this film is. My scores for this film are:

Horror/Romance: 7.5 Movie Overall: 7.0.

All in a good way!!! Could they have gone even father w the premise? Absolutely! What is on screen is good enough entertainment to keep you on the edge of your seat! Many wtf moments are the best part of this film. Gloriously enough this film does not take itself too serious and therefore it's out of f&$cks to give which is the beauty of it. So if you get queasy over silly things, this movie is not for you. The premise is original like Substance and for that horror fans will be rewarded w much joy in this twisted twisted tale of becoming one!

I hope that this movie goes down as one of the best romance films of all time. With a refreshingly new outlook on the genres of horror and romance, woven together to create a stunning, and visually impressive film. Dave Franco and Alison Brie's chemistry plus their acting ability entangles the watcher and engrosses them in the story. I look forward to seeing other movies to come from the director. This is an incredible movie and I hope to see it in horror history next to THE SUBSTANCE in the Academy Awards. The effects are phenomenal. The plot is gorgeous. And the acting is very good. The one critique I would have to give is this film has a ton of incredible puzzle pieces but some of them go to different puzzles. Definitely a must see though.

Some of the scenes in this movie are pretty freaking sweet. They did a really good job on the graphics of this movie, some of which are truly terrifying. After watching the home the day previously, with pete Davidson, I have to say that movie was better even though it got worse ratings. That story was all over the place, but this one was just weird and still didnt make sense when considering the church other than it just happened to the. Creepy scenes and a love story. But crap main story over all.

Watch at AMC with Heather on 8-1-2025.

Together was ultimately a very frustrating experience for me, because for every piece of genuinely interesting filmmaking and concepts from writer/director Michael Shanks, there's an equal amount of horror cliches that I've already seen a hundred times. This isn't really helped by the fact that the "twist" is straight up spoiled by every piece of marketing material, despite the movie trying it's best to throw whatever doubt it can during the first act. When it actually gets into actually exploring the body horror, it becomes somewhat interesting again, with a healthy mix of genuine squeamishness and black comedy, although it's far from being the most graphic or disturbing offering in this subgenre.

The acting is generally fine, but does get underminded by the script shoehorning in some of the most obvious foreshadowing of all time. I did find Dave Franco's performance the most amusing since he ends up whipping out a discount Jesse Pinkman voice towards the end of the film, whether that was intentional or not.

While I ultimately didn't hate my experience with Together, I do think that most people will probably end up coming out of this film disappointed, especially due to the intense hype of this supposedly being "the scariest movie of the year". I think that director Michael Shanks definitely has potential to make something truly great if he tries, since this is his debut full-length feature. Here's to hoping that Mr Shanks is able to find his own voice in cinema.

This review contains no spoilers; solely my subjective opinion(s) of a remarkable film.

Wow! Just wow! Together has a little bit of everything, and had me laughing, crying, on the edge of my seat, and frightened. I couldn't look away, even when it was almost necessary to do so. I cannot tell you all the last time I felt so many different emotions, the last time I've seen a movie and wanted more. The acting, chemistry, cinematography, character arc, and plot has you hooked almost immediately, and never gives up from there. I highly recommend Together, as it is beyond a doubt, for anyone and everyone who wants to have a truly visceral reaction and left speechless. I began this process in awe, and leave saying WOW,!

I enjoyed watching this fresh, unique horror movie. It was really interesting story and plot, amazing acting from the both leads. Great chemistry and also the build up of the story in the movie was really done well. It has scary scenes and disturbing brutal parts that I like because it did added some horror feels in the entire movie. I love how the plot was properly executed especially how the twist unraveled at the latter part of the movie. By the title itself Together, the ending really matches everything to it and how the cult thing become so accurate by how the movie ended. This was one of the best horror movie made this year, a highly recommended to watch.