The Together review reveals why this 2025 body horror comedy masterpiece delivers both genuine scares and surprising heart. Michael Shanks’ audacious direction transforms familiar relationship territory into something genuinely unsettling and profound.
What happens when you combine the intimacy of a struggling relationship with the most disturbing transformations imaginable? You get horror perfection. Together (2025), directed by Michael Shanks, stands as one of the most inventive body horror films in recent memory. This supernatural comedy-horror follows real-life married couple Tim and Millie as they move to the countryside hoping for a fresh start, only to encounter a mysterious force that begins corrupting their bodies in horrifying ways. While the film operates on familiar relationship drama territory, it succeeds because it never separates the horror from the emotional truth—every grotesque transformation serves the deeper story of codependency and love.
Synopsis
Years into their relationship, Tim (Dave Franco) and Millie (Alison Brie) find themselves at a crossroads as they abandon city life for a remote countryside property. With tensions already flaring between them, their attempt at a romantic fresh start takes a nightmarish turn when they encounter an unnatural force that threatens to corrupt their lives, their love, and their flesh.
As the mysterious entity begins causing horrific changes to their bodies, Tim and Millie must confront not only the supernatural threat but also the toxic patterns in their relationship. With the help of their eccentric neighbors Mr. Wilson (Tom Considine) and Mrs. Wilson (Melanie Beddie), they discover that their codependent bond may be both their greatest weakness and their only hope for survival.
Plot & Themes
Together operates on a brilliantly twisted premise: sometimes the most dangerous monsters are the ones we create in our relationships. The body horror elements serve as visceral metaphors for exploring codependency, toxic attachment, and the ways couples can literally consume each other.
The film’s genius lies in its commitment to both horror and emotional authenticity. When Tim and Millie’s bodies begin merging in grotesque ways, the movie never lets audiences forget that this physical transformation reflects their psychological entanglement. These moments work because Shanks grounds every supernatural element in recognizable relationship dynamics.
Thematically, the movie celebrates healthy independence while acknowledging the genuine terror of losing someone you love. The couple’s journey isn’t just about surviving a supernatural threat—it’s about learning to love without losing themselves in the process.
Cinematography & Visuals
Director of photography captures the claustrophobic intimacy of the countryside setting with visual techniques that serve both the horror and romantic elements perfectly. The cinematography emphasizes the isolation of the remote location while creating an increasingly oppressive atmosphere as the supernatural elements intensify.
The film excels in practical effects that bring the body horror to life. The sequences showing Tim and Millie’s physical transformations demonstrate masterful prosthetics and makeup work. The visual approach lingers on disturbing imagery just long enough to create genuine revulsion without becoming gratuitous.
The rural landscape rewards careful viewing. During daylight scenes, the beautiful countryside contrasts sharply with the nightmarish transformations, creating a visual tension that amplifies both the horror and the tragic romance.
Acting & Characters
Alison Brie and Dave Franco deliver career-defining performances that benefit enormously from their real-life marriage. Their natural chemistry transforms what could have been generic horror dialogue into genuinely affecting moments of connection and conflict. Both actors commit fully to the physical demands of their transformations while maintaining the emotional core of their characters.
Damon Herriman provides excellent support in a key role, bringing his characteristic intensity to scenes that require both menace and vulnerability. His performance adds layers to the supernatural mystery without overwhelming the central relationship.
Tom Considine and Melanie Beddie round out the cast as the eccentric neighbors, delivering performances that balance comedy and genuine creepiness. Their characters provide both comic relief and crucial plot information without feeling like exposition dumps.
Direction & Screenplay
Michael Shanks’ direction maintains perfect balance between horror and relationship drama throughout the film’s runtime. Making his feature debut after short films like Rebooted, Shanks understood that body horror requires both visceral impact and emotional investment. Every grotesque transformation is given space to horrify while serving the deeper character development.
The screenplay by Shanks layers thematic complexity at multiple levels:
- Relationship dynamics that feel authentic before the supernatural elements arrive
- Horror elements that enhance rather than overshadow the emotional story
- Comedy beats that provide relief without undermining the genuine scares
- Supernatural mythology that remains mysterious while feeling internally consistent
The script’s structure follows horror conventions while subverting them through genuine character growth. This creates familiarity that makes the unexpected emotional moments land with greater impact.
Sound & Music
The film’s score perfectly balances romantic and horrific elements to create an audio landscape that mirrors the couple’s deteriorating relationship. Sweet melodic themes gradually distort into dissonant horror as the supernatural threat intensifies, creating an auditory representation of love turning toxic.
Sound design plays a crucial role in selling the body horror transformations. The organic, wet sounds of flesh merging and bones cracking create visceral reactions that make the visual effects even more disturbing.
The use of silence deserves particular recognition. Key moments of transformation and emotional revelation are allowed to breathe without musical manipulation, trusting audiences to process both the horror and the heart through performance alone.
Conclusion & Verdict
Together succeeds because it treats both its horror elements and relationship drama with equal seriousness and creativity. Every element—from practical effects to emotional performances to thematic depth—works in service of a story that functions as both effective horror and genuine romance.
Strengths:
- Alison Brie and Dave Franco’s authentic chemistry and fearless performances
- Inventive body horror that serves the emotional themes
- Excellent practical effects and makeup work
- Perfect balance of scares, laughs, and genuine heart
Minor Weaknesses:
- Some viewers may find the body horror elements too intense for the romantic elements
- Occasional pacing issues in the middle act as supernatural rules are established
This film remains essential viewing for horror fans and anyone who appreciates creative takes on relationship drama. Together works for audiences who enjoyed The Fly, Annihilation, or Possessor.
Rating: 8.5/10
Director: Michael Shanks
MPAA Rating: R (for violent/disturbing content, sexual content, graphic nudity, language and brief drug content)
Starring: Dave Franco, Alison Brie, Damon Herriman, Tom Considine, Melanie Beddie
For more body horror reviews, check out our analysis of other genre-blending films. You can also explore the film’s festival success at the Internet Movie Database.
