Michael Shanks’s Together is an instant supernatural classic for the body horror genre, allowing for audiences to explore the inner workings of a relationship already on the rocks as they come face to face with a supernatural entity. With go-for-broke performances from Alison Brie, Dave Franco and Damon Herriman, Together is guaranteed to have everyone squirming in their seats when this body horror romcom comes out on the big screen later this year.

Everyone knows the classic formula for how a love story should be: regardless of how messy and complicated the process of falling in or out of love is, there’s always a way for two people to be brought back together in the midst of a crisis. Whether it’s close proximity of communication, most romantic stories follow a strict routine in creating a love story to have the audiences on the edge of their seat in hopes of figuring out what’s next. From the outside looking in, it’s no surprise that relationships are the most complicated thing to focus on in a film, and figuring out how to balance the struggles a couple has throughout their long-term relationship on screen. So, when you throw in the element of body horror, the inner workings of a relationship on edge, and romcom-esque comedic beats, you end up with a film like Michael Shanks’s Together. After premiering as one of the standout films that played at Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, it’s no surprise that Together is guaranteed to be one of the buzziest films of 2025, but also, an incredible step forward into what body horror can become for the horror genre. 

Without giving the full plot away, Together follows Millie (Alison Brie) and Tim (Dave Franco) in a 10-year long relationship on the edge. As the couple decides to relocate to the countryside for a job opportunity, the pair find themselves at a crossroads in how their relationship is going. Despite being far from home and everyone they know, the pair attempt to settle into their new environment until they come face-to-face with a supernatural force that threatens the way they live, how the two look at their relationship, and ultimately, their flesh. It’s a film that allows Brie and Franco to perform some go-for-broke moments that are guaranteed to have audience members squirming in their seats, and is the type of film that deserves to be seen on the big screen.

Together may be Shanks’ directorial feature debut, it’s clear throughout the film that Shanks is well-versed in his voice as an upcoming filmmaker for the horror genre. There’s various moments throughout the screenplay that are incredibly relatable to anyone who has been in a long-term relationship, from moments of questioning if the relationship is reliant on the fact that both Millie and Tim have been together for over a decade that bleeds into the film’s humor. At the crux of Together, is the familiarity that both Millie and Tim have with one another that makes the audience root for them to survive. The humor (which is very Australian and works so well throughout the script) amplifies who the characters are and how their personalities have blended together throughout the years. Not only does the script provide some heartwarming moments amidst all of the chaos and horror unfolding, it ends up being genuinely funny. It’s rare for a horror movie of this caliber to transfix the audience with humor that pays off in the end. Moments of bickering and banter make Millie and Tim more human, and the line is tiptoed by humor, romance, and excruciating pain. 

Together is not only amplified by its screenplay and direction, but the performances are really what sells the film from being just a story about relationships intertwined with body horror. While Brie and Franco are married in real life, their chemistry bleeds on screen and the world both Millie and Tim have built together is authentic. Millie is someone who is very career-driven and settled into her new world, while Tim is often seen struggling on the person who he aspires to be throughout his fading career. Both Brie and Franco are able to balance the complexities of their character’s inner feelings to each other. Their chemistry is incredibly palpable, and is the reason why the film is able to work so well. The addition of Damon Herriman as Jamie, a fellow co-worker that Millie meets at her new job allows for the audience to see the other people in the town that are haunted by their pasts, and how Millie and Tim’s relationship is viewed from the outside. All 3 performers give it their all throughout the film, and exceed all expectations in Together. 

In terms of the body horror element, what Shanks and the prosthetic team have created is haunting, horrifying and hairraising to witness. Seeing what Millie and Tim go through as the pair are battling to not only survive, but to grab hold of one another is something that truly took me aback while watching. The evolution of prosthetics that Brie and Franco undergo is gruesome, and amplifies the vision that Shanks has: showcasing a couple that is becoming undone after a decade, only to be brought back and forced to work together to survive. Together’s cinematography, done by Germain McMicking, also creates a claustrophobic yet vast landscape that puts you inside Millie and Tim’s shoes, and you’re going to be left feeling dizzy and ready for whatever comes next. 

Together is not only a positive step forward into the body horror genre, but also proves to be one of the most romantic films you’ll see in 2025. The exploration of how intimacy fades, and how losing yourself in a relationship might be the thing that brings you back to your partner. Millie and Tim have to fight and stick together in order to survive, and how love can transcend the downfall of a relationship. It’s about finding your own individuality with your significant other, even in the midst of bone crunching noises and blood splattered walls. If this is the trajectory that Shanks is going for his career as a filmmaker, it’s safe to say that I’m ready to watch whatever he decides to write and direct next. With a story that audiences can relate to, one thing has never been more clear: you should take your significant other to watch Together when it plays in theaters. 

Grade: A

Oscars Prospects: 
Likely: None
Should Be Considered: Best Makeup & Hairstyling

Release Date: July 30, 2025
Where to Watch: In Theaters