Ticketworthy! - Together

There are many effective types of horror that a filmmaker can use to frighten you. Methods such as jump-scares and psychological horror have proven to be incredibly effective on audiences over the years, which is why we see them so often. However, a lesser used method is to simply bombard the viewer with tense, uncomfortable scenes until you break down their walls and let the terror sink into their bones. It is this kind of horror that director Michael Shanks has mastered with Together. It’s effective, but it’s not always easy to watch.

When a young couple, Tim (Dave Franco) and Millie (Alison Brie), move out to the country, they find their relationship strained. Millie is a teacher and very put together, while Tim is a more free-spirited musician still chasing his rockstar dreams. While the move puts their differing lifestyles and their feelings for each other to the test, a mysterious force is quite literally pulling them together. They have to find a way to overcome their differences or risk being smashed together into a horrible abomination.

The film wisely chooses not to make the body horror the main focus, thankfully. Instead, the vast majority of the runtime is spent on the couple themselves and their struggles. Piece by piece, we get to watch these two people go from a loving couple to wanting nothing to do with each other, and the fallout is played slow and miserable. At times, it’s honestly more unpleasant to watch than any of the actual horror sequences.

Franco and Brie both deliver knockout performances. I was incredibly impressed with Franco in particular. Tim is a deeply flawed character, he’s immature and selfish, and a lesser actor could easily have played him as totally irredeemable. Franco, however, makes him relatable and sympathetic, even if you don’t agree with some of the things that he does.

Outside of great performances, the movie is also buoyed by fantastic direction, cinematography, and sound design. All the production choices work seamlessly together and combine to create an atmosphere that feels downright smothering.  It may well be the most stressful film of the year.

As a result, I think this is a hard movie to recommend. Without spoiling anything, there never feels like there’s a triumphant payoff for all the stress and misery you sit through. A movie like Bring Her Back, for instance, has a pretty cathartic final act that really makes all the tension worth it. Together only has more stress to offer. If you are the kind of person that really enjoys it when a film beats you down, then this would be my highest recommendation of the year. Otherwise, it’s still a very good movie that I’m not convinced you’ll like very much.

Still, Together is an incredibly competent movie that accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do. It certainly isn’t one I’m going to rush to watch again, but only because it is so good at being what it is. Fans of the genre will likely love it, while others may not exactly be pulled in. I promise, though, it will stick with you.