#REVIEW: “TOGETHER”

Review by Nicholas Porteous for Mr. Will Wong

Ever been struck by the excruciating feeling that your very committed relationship may be past its expiration date? Despite the fact that your partner couldn’t be more wonderful–like, they’re literally Alison Brie? Together extrapolates on this terrifying scenario through an Ari Aster/Jordan Peele-esque lens of surreal Horror. Real-life spouses Alison Brie and Dave Franco (as longterm partners Millie and Tim) move to a house in the countryside, and though he might not be able to admit it to himself, Tim‘s resentment towards Millie has already taken hold. Just as they’re set to begin a new phase of their lives, the relationship seems to be dying a slow death. Enter the surreal Horror conceit: a haunted cave, just off the hiking trail, with a strange pool of water that forces any pair who drink from it to physically fuse together. You’ll never guess which couple takes a big gulp.

Together has all the makings of a Cult Horror movie. It draws from an authentic well of trauma. Director Michael Shanks has a keen eye, and much of the Movie’s grotesque imagery hits that sweet spot between bonkers and believable. It weaves an enticing, creepy web of uncomfortable situations and menacing signs, and everything seems to be building to an off-the-wall final act. The problem arises when Together is forced to deliver on its mountain of omens. If you’ve seen the poster, you may already know too much. And if you’ve avoided all marketing, the Film’s 5-minute prologue featuring a couple of tragic dogs who drink the water will tell you mostly everything. When a Movie is so up-front about exactly where it’s going, it’s fair to imagine there may be a deeper, unexpected meaning that you can’t anticipate–something that makes the story worth telling beyond its obvious hook. Maybe the fractured Tim/Millie relationship is so vividly rendered that the story itself doesn’t matter? Or the specific vision of things… coming together will make the Human Centipede look like Dr. Seuss?

Unfortunately, nope–on all counts. Together has the opportunity to explore a truly complicated, struggling relationship–one that seems so right in theory but, for some ineffable reason, cannot exist as it is. Like an inverted ‘will they or won’t they’. But I found the Tim and Millie dynamic way more cut and dry. Franco‘s clearly checked out and Brie’s not fulfilled in the slightest. There’s plenty of push, but not enough pull between the two to keep things interesting. Props to Franco and Brie for committing to a nightmare version of what I can only assume is a deeply-secure and happy partnership in real life, but why leave out so much of the good stuff? The way the two navigate the fusion curse, particularly in its final stages, feels very inconsistent. Their behaviour and communication is increasingly baffling in light of the information they have and the things they’ve seen. And especially since the Movie has shown how the fusion water works in the opening minutes, Tim and Millie come off even more thoughtless. Major “don’t go in there, you fools!” vibes.

Together also spends a lot of time stalling after the point of no return, allowing the audience’s expectations to calcify, and robbing the final moments of any serious punch. I have to scratch my head about why Together doesn’t go even one step beyond its conclusion. It feels like there’s an act missing, and instead the time’s been spent hemming and hawing around the one idea from the poster and the Prologue. There are references to a ritual and a cult and other bits and pieces that might lend more depth, but ultimately, the foreboding world of Together feels pretty vague. Aster-esque, rather than the genuine article. I’m left to assume the mysterious cult’s raison d’être and its overlap with the overcommitted relationship is just a huge coincidence. Even at an unimposing 102 minutes, Together feels a bit short on ideas. It’s both drawn out and not enough. The movie offers a compelling concept, plenty of hair-raising visuals, and two vulnerable performances that draw from a real-life partnership, but the whole package doesn’t quite gel, cohere, or–(I’m sorry)–come together.

Elevation Pictures release TOGETHER August 1, 2025.