Review by Chris Rennirt
Along with The Ugly Stepsister, Together is easily one of the two best horror films of 2025. And while it’s one I felt compelled to write about–as a catharsis and to spread the word–it’s also one that’s difficult to review. As a movie you’re better off seeing knowing little (or nothing) about, I’ll do my best to both analyze and recommend, without spoiling the fear…and the genre-blending, flesh-meshing story as well!
Tim (Dave Franco) and Millie (Allison Brie) are a couple who, after years into their relationship, aren’t quite as “together” as they should be, before the big question is popped and marriage is planned. Emotionally, physically, and even sexually, they are more different than the same, almost destined to be a fossil in the strata of lovers grown apart, sooner rather than later. With tensions flaring, nerves on edge, and questions about their future mounting, they have a chance (or fateful) encounter with a supernatural force that will change their relationship, emotions, and physical existence forever. From writer/director Michael Shanks comes a tale of romance, body horror and religion gone wrong unlike any before, by leaps and bounds–or folds of twisted flesh and bone! With that, and so much done and done to death in horror already, is the greatest, most uncommon of compliments, literally and figuratively! Yes! Body horror masters like David Cronenberg (with The Fly, Videodrome, Existenz, and Naked Lunch) and especially John Carpenter (with The Thing) would be impressed with Shanks’ Together! A grotesque scene with a pair of dogs sets a Carpenter vibe from the start. Elsewhere, repeated imagery is also metaphorical and reminiscent of The Ring, (more about that later). Further, the blend of body and romantic horror, as tributes to the masters, makes a triumphant, original mutation in the genre!
Allison Brie (as Millie) in Together
While I haven’t revealed too much so far, with only generalities of the setup, I must stress again how less is better with this one. I saw several posters for the movie that told me too much, before I saw the movie! But, the poster I chose for this review was carefully chosen to avoid a spoiler! (Look at it all you like!) And luckily–with the director’s wisdom to create it–I was able to find a spoiler-free trailer too (included below) that, as it should, only intrigues.
A fateful moment in Together (with Allison Brie and Dave Franco)
The performances of all involved are excellent, with the actors truly becoming the characters they are! Allison Brie (as Millie) and Dave Franco (as Tim) show convincing chemistry as needed, waxing and waning it believably, as viewers flesh out (or flesh in) their transformations. With such focus on subtleties of emotion, Together is a film that would have failed completely with actors of lesser range and skill. But, with Brie and Franco, and all else, it’s a resounding success! Speaking of Allison Brie, I look forward to seeking out, rather than waiting for, more movies with her as the star.
“…God’s jealousy has robbed you of your perfect form. Yet divine happiness is flowing through us.” ~ Jamie
Special effects–which look to be a practical/digital combo–are most effective in delivering the movie’s shocking visual imagery, all seamlessly blended. The result is visual realism and visceral feel, jaw-dropping and unforgettable! Yes! Horror of the corporeal type must be visually tactile, almost devastating to watch, excruciating to the senses, feeling more real than vicarious, more personal than voyeuristic. With Together, all of that “and a bag of chips” (or a bag of flesh, perhaps) is exactly what we get!
Millie (Allison Brie) and Tim (Dave Franco)
Back to homages, another I saved for last serves a striking, horrifying helping of J-Horror goodness! No! I won’t tell you who it is, how it is, or why. But, with contortionist twitching, bending and stretching to rival even Sadako Yamamura from Ringu (The Ring), it’s there; and with it, another master of horror would be impressed–Hideo Nakata. (Yes! How can those white-skinned, black-haired, back-bending ladies of terror ever be cliché?) Repetition of circular imagery elsewhere goes further down the “well” of Ringu homages. (And for those who haven’t seen Ringu (The Ring), and have no idea WTF I’m talking about, Google it!) However, no homage in Together is thrown in for the sake of being there only, clichéing and cheapening the story as a side effect. Here, they’re all natural, unforced elements of the plot as much as they are intentional, effective homages, working with rather than against the story. Together is the second consecutive movie I have watched and reviewed in which the writer/director uses intentional tropes as homages, as tributes to personally-inspirational movies and directors. (The first one earlier was It Feeds, written and directed by Chad Archibald). Perhaps, with so many original ideas already done, intentional tropes of inspiration are the future of horror. For encouragement, tropes have negative connotations, homages do not. Movies like Together prove that tropes morphed to homages can, indeed, be the genesis of exciting (even jaw-dropping), original ideas!
“We spend our lives in search of the other half. If you think you found that, don’t be so quick to let it go.” ~ Jaimie
And the humor! Wow! I didn’t expect it, but loved it all the more, as it happened so out of nowhere! Beginning as a serious horror film, another subgenre is added to the movie’s mix–dark comedy with unexpected jokes, sometimes during the most horrific events. Scenes involving an electric saw, kissing, and genitals (and don’t worry; NOT all in the same scene!) add humor I’m still laughing about! Here, humor adds memorable, standout moments, further distinguishing it in the genre, making it more than just another horror film, albeit original. Without the dark comedy, and without it being so truly funny, Together would not, for me, be among the top-two best films of 2025.
An electric saw in a horror movie! Oh my!
An arguable criticism of Together could be that it reveals too much about where it’s going, from the beginning. (Something I won’t do here.) However, being such a process-oriented film, with the process being so captivating and interesting, none of “the reveal” hurts the film. Instead, it mostly heightens tension and dread all the more, as viewers watch people so totally unaware. Also, what I suggest is revealing is, in fact, only a glimpse; with that, it only teases and keep us watching!
Seeing eye to eye in Together
Together takes an easy place on my list of top-two best horror films of 2025. Loaded with originality, perfect humor, unpredictability (if you can avoid the spoiling posters and trailers), J-Horror homages, mystery, suspense, a love story, and body horror to impress Cronenberg, it’s more than worth its 102 minute running time. With twists and turns to keep you squirming, and new skin in the genre, find your significant other, wife, husband or whoever and get TOGETHER! And, to the gods of religious-horror, blessing us with vicarious terror, pray it’s just a movie!
Rocket Rating – 10
Chris Rennirt is a movie critic and writer in Louisville, Kentucky, as well as editor in chief at Space Jockey Reviews. He has been a judge at many film festivals, including Macabre Faire Film Festival and Crimson Screen Film Fest, and he attends horror and sci-fi conventions often. Chris’ movie reviews, articles, and interviews appear in Effective Magazine and are published regularly on Space Jockey Reviews.