‘Together’ review: Love seriously hurts

Alison Brie and Dave Franco star in Michael Shanks’ Together, a body horror comedy and codependency cautionary tale oozing hilarity.

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Together is a body horror comedy that sticks to your ribs—and maybe your partner’s, too. Directed by Michael Shanks in his feature debut, this twisted rom-com-meets-Cronenberg-lite fever dream stars real-life married couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a fictional couple navigating not only the usual hurdles of moving to the countryside but also a supernatural event that turns their codependent relationship literally grotesque. What starts as a quirky take on long-term love quickly descends into full-blown body horror, proving that “til death do us part” might not be the scariest part of a relationship.

The plot centers on Tim (Franco) and Millie (Brie), who’ve been together for a decade, and despite the lack of marital commitment, their lives have long been grossly intertwined. Their cozy new country life takes a left turn into nightmare territory after a mysterious cosmic incident ripped straight out of a Stephen King novel. And their relationship is tested in ways neither expected (or wanted).

Mix it up.

Together is a confrontational genre mixture that blends pretty smoothly. Think The Fly meets The Notebook—if The Notebook came with prosthetics, blood, and horrifying yet hilarious practical effects. Franco’s anxiety-riddled unraveling and Brie’s frantic attempts at “fixing” their shared predicament hit both emotional and comedic highs. The physical comedy of their entangled situation, paired with Shanks’ keen eye for absurdity, makes every scene a gut-punch. Sometimes literally.

But what elevates Together beyond its B-movie horror roots is the sheer joy with which it embraces its own absurd premise. The prosthetics and effects, while often cringe-inducing, are crafted with such creativity and detail that you can’t help but admire the audacity of it all, even as you recoil. One standout sequence, involving a bizarre interaction between two (ahem) body parts, is both laugh-out-loud funny and deeply horrific. It’s a scene that could’ve been directed by Sam Raimi in one of his campier moods. Shanks knows how to balance the disgusting and the delightful. Ensuring that even as you groan, you’re still having a blast.

A perfect match.

Brie and Franco’s chemistry is the film’s glue. Both figuratively and, well, all right you get the point. The pair’s commitment to their roles, especially in the film’s more physically demanding scenes, is evident. You can seriously feel the weight of their natural history. With some arguments and “managing” of the other person’s issues definitely made me feel guilty. Like I was walking in on a cursed couples therapy session.

Most of the themes here are pretty on the nose (sorry), as expected. And most audiences will figure out where this is all ultimately headed pretty early on. But Shanks does pull off asking some uncomfortable questions along the way. What happens when two people are too close for comfort? How much of yourself can you lose in a relationship before there’s nothing left? The answers, of course, come with plenty of squelching sound effects.

The bottom line.

For all its sick-and-twisted fun, Together is ultimately a love story—or maybe a warning disguised as one. Shanks has crafted a midnight movie joyride, blending humor, horror, and heart into a film that will leave you laughing, gagging, and maybe reconsidering how much time you spend with your significant other. If love means never having to say you’re sorry for drinking the wrong goo, Together may be the date-night movie of the year.

This review originally ran as part of our coverage of the Sundance 2025 Film Festival. Together is now playing in select theaters. Watch the trailer here.

Images courtesy of Neon. Read more articles by Jon Negroni here.