“Together” (2025)

Horror

Running Time: 102 minutes

Written & directed by: Michael Shanks

Featuring: Dave Franco and Alison Brie

Tim: “It’s called diazepam now! It works quicker if you snort it!”

Together is a 2025 body-horror film directed by Michael Shanks, starring real-life couple Alison Brie and Dave Francoas Millie and Tim — a long-term couple whose relationship is already strained when they move to a remote countryside home. What begins as an intimate drama about emotional distance quickly morphs into a grotesque, metaphor-laden horror spectacle when they encounter a mysterious force that intertwines their bodies in nightmarish ways.

What sets Together apart from your average horror flick is its central metaphor — the idea of emotional codependency turned into literal physical fusion. The film uses the horror genre not just to scare, but to comment on the psychological dynamics of modern relationships: fear of separation, loss of identity, and the dread of being trapped with someone you can’t escape. It’s this conceptual backbone that gives the movie weight beyond its grotesque visuals.

Critically, many viewers and reviewers have described the film as body horror with heart — or heart-shaped scars — where emotional unease and physical distortion merge seamlessly. Some critics even call it a “grotesque love story” and a romantic body horror hybrid.

A selling point for the film — and a frequent talking point among audiences — is the real-life chemistry between Alison Brie and Dave Franco. Many argue that their genuine connection adds emotional verisimilitude to the horror, making the metaphorical terror feel literally intimate and personal.

That said, not every viewer was sold on the leads. Some critics and fans felt that, despite the actors’ efforts, the script didn’t always serve them well and their performances occasionally fell flat compared to the film’s ambitions.

In the 4K Ultra HD presentation, Together truly shines. The clarity of the Ultra HD format enhances both the lush countryside visuals and the nauseating body-horror sequences. Skin textures, contorted limbs, subtle makeup effects, and digital blends benefit from the high resolution, making shock moments — both grotesque and unsettling — far more impactful.

The sound design deserves special mention: every squelch, squirm, and bodily shift is rendered with discomforting realism — an auditory texture that climbs under your skin as effectively as the visuals do. 

Practical effects — especially in the major transformation scenes — stand out as memorable and often icky in the best way, giving the film that visceral, tactile feel that fans of the genre crave.

One of the most common criticisms revolves around pacing. Together spends a significant amount of time establishing relationship drama before the horror kicks in, leading some viewers to feel like the first act is slow or uneventful. Later in the film, the introduction of a vague cult subplot and an over-explained backstory has been described as diluting the tension rather than enhancing it.

This uneven pacing contributes to a tonal inconsistency that may frustrate genre purists who want non-stop scares, and narrative purists who want cohesive storytelling.

What makes Together linger long after the credits roll is its emotional metaphor. Underneath the physical horror is a commentary on how people can cling too tightly to others, losing themselves in the process. This theme gives the film more to ponder than most horror movies ever attempt. This allegorical strength is why many viewers recommend the film not just as a fright-fest, but as a psychological conversation starter — especially among couples or those interested in relationship dynamics.

Critically, Together holds strong ratings on review aggregators, with many critics praising its originality and visceral energy. The film’s unconventional blend of romance, horror, and body grotesquery ensures it’s one of the most talked-about horror offerings of 2025 — for better and worse.

It’s not a perfect film, but it is ambitious, memorable, and unlike most horror films released in recent years — and in 4K, it’s a sensory experience that’s hard to forget.

Together is:

• 🎥 A visually striking and conceptually daring body horror film.
• ❤️ A metaphor-rich exploration of codependency and identity within relationships.
• 😱 A divisive but unforgettable horror experience — at its best when viewed as metaphor and mood, less so when judged solely on plot mechanics.

If you want horror that makes you think, cringe, and squirm all at once, Together is well worth your time — especially in its 4K edition, which elevates every grotesque detail.out two very human, flawed people finding each other — that kind of subtle restoration is exactly the right call.