'Together' (2025) Review
Gruesome, Gimmicky, and Almost Great
Premise - “Years into their relationship, Tim and Millie find themselves at a crossroads when they move to the countryside, abandoning all that is familiar in their lives except each other. With tensions already flaring, a nightmarish encounter with a mysterious, unnatural force threatens to corrupt their lives, their love, and their flesh.”
Director - Michael Shanks
Writer - Michael Shanks
Noteworthy cast - Dave Franco & Allison Brie
My thoughts - Before I even sat down to watch the film, I was on board with the Allison Brie/Dave Franco of it all. As the film unfolded, I found myself drawn into the tense moments and jarring images that Shanks is creating on screen.
As great as all of those things are, there is one big problem with “Together”.
It just doesn’t have enough to say about what it’s depicting.
Don’t get me wrong, the whole codependency metaphor is visualized quite literally throughout the movie (and done very successfully). It just never feels any deeper than simply portraying it on screen. Which causes the whole thing to feel a bit gimmicky.
If you are going to tackle a topic like codependency, maybe ask how relationships get to this point? Or ask why they get to this point? Or ask how to save a relationship from going to the place?
Body horror is no doubt having a moment, so I understand if people are getting wrapped up & ultimately won over by the images they see on screen. There is no mistake that the film chose the midnight section of Sundance as its launching point. It is the perfect movie to “oooooohh and ahhhh” while you squirm in your seat with your friends & strangers around you.
I just wish this one was a bit more than that.
Not every movie has to give you enough to chew on, but it can frustrating when you have something so ripe for that, but it decides to not venture down that road.
Without spoiling anything, I will say that there is a scene that takes place in a bathroom stall (IYKYK) that is easily one of the best scenes of the year. It is the sort of scene that illustrates just how gnarly this movie is. I just wish it was as good at exploring the what and the why behind codependency as it is at portraying it in disturbing ways on the big screen.
How did it do at the box office? - Unknown yet
Did it win any Oscars? - TBD
Where to watch - Currently in theaters