TOGETHER

A big part of the fun here is what lies behind the horror, and it's both a great pleasure and a mindfuck watching real-life married couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco dissecting codependency in a relationship. Being on screen together for almost the entire run time, the two provide the structural integrity for the entire film, allowing us to believe both the uncertainty and the insanity when it really matters.

It's perhaps a typical heterosexual dynamic; Millie is the stable rock, while Tim is still growing up - the clichéd struggling musician - and uncertain of everything in his future because of his past. Obviously, where this ends up going is anything but typical, and seeing the push and pull of the relationship manifest itself is, at times, uncomfortable to say the least.

What Brie and Franco bring to 'Together' is something many of us crave in horror films: an added dimension that offers something more than just jump scares. They are intertwined in an emotionally unhealthy reliance on one another, and while there may be love at the heart of their relationship, their codependency continues to be a destructive force. As an audience, we are there with them in this relationship, invested in what they're going through. Because of our connection to them, the latter acts in the film aren't just horrific, they're visceral; you feel them as they experience each torturous moment.

The next question that comes to me is: how did Alison Brie and Dave Franco end up in this Australian horror film? The answer, I assume, is the film's director and writer, Michael Shanks - even more spectacularly, in his feature film debut. With a background in visual effects, he also ended up working on a bulk of the VFX shots on the low-budget film. 'Together' has been such a hit that it premiered at Sundance and opened the Sydney Film Festival. For those keeping score, it retains a 100% reviewer ranking on Rotten Tomatoes.

While the project has certainly been a labour of love for Shanks, it's clearly also due to the success of his production team that this film is as disturbing as it is. Hats particularly go off to cinematographer Germain McMicking ('Nitram', 'Mortal Kombat') and production designer Nicholas Dare (art director for 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga' and 'Peter Rabbit 2'). Their work goes a long way in creating the eerie environment that envelops Tim and Millie, making their remote escape seem remarkably claustrophobic.

In retrospect, there were a few elements that weren't quite spot on. Perhaps the concept is a little blatant, a recurring issue we're frequently facing with modern films, and perhaps the horror element is a tad less present than I would have liked. Still, these issues are minor when looking at the movie as a whole, which concluded with a real sense of fulfilment and cohesion (pun intended). It's an arduous watch - at times physically, at others emotionally - but a compelling exploration into the dark side of codependency.

It's no surprise this is being touted as the best horror of the year; it's one of the most unique and confronting films of the genre I've experienced in a long time. Bringing something new to the body horror subgenre isn't an easy feat, and yet Michael Shanks manages that in his feature directorial debut - it will be interesting to see what's next for the Melbourne-based filmmaker. Watching the push and pull between Dave Franco and Alison Brie offers us the chance to consider how relationships change and evolve, and offers room for us to consider how attached we might be to our significant others.

The 'Together' competition has now closed. Winners will be announced shortly. Check our Comps page for all a list of our winners.

Competition opens at 5:00pm AEST on Sunday 20th July 2025 and closes at 11:59 pm AEST on Sunday 27th July 2025. Five winners will be chosen at random on Monday 28th July 2025. To successfully win, entrants must fulfil the above entry conditions before the time the competition closes. Current members/followers are eligible to enter the competition. Only one entry per person. Only one winner per household. To be a valid winner, the entrant must not have won a prize from SWITCH within the last 28 days. Each winner will receive one double pass to 'Together'. By entering, you agree to receive occasional emails from SWITCH in the future. If you decide to unsubscribe from these updates, any further entries will not be applicable. Only Australian residents are eligible to enter.