Together (2015)

Together (2015) is an American-Australian psychological horror film written and directed by Michael Shanks. He is an Australian director. Of course he is!!! This is his first feature film. Filming took place in Australia, notably in Melbourne in the state of Victoria.

The two main actors in the film are a couple, both in real life and on screen… which explains all those languorous kissing scenes between Dave Franco, James’ brother, and Alison Brie (Promising Young Woman, Scream 4, The Rental, Pentagon Papers…). There probably wouldn’t have been as many scenes like this if the actors weren’t so close. But although I’m one of the first to point out unnecessary scenes (especially sex scenes), in this case they are appropriate because the subject matter of the film lends itself to them.

Dave is also a director. He had already starred with his wife in at least one other film. He acted under his brother’s direction, playing opposite his brother’s friends, including Seth Rogen. He was the star of the independent psychological thriller Nerve and had young Emma Roberts (Julia Roberts’ niece) as his co-star. He appeared in three episodes of the Netflix series Easy. In short, he has already made quite a name for himself.

In 2020, he stepped behind the camera for the first time with a horror thriller called The Rental, in which he directed his wife, Alison Brie, as well as Dan Stevens, Jeremy Allen White and Sheila Vand.

This film has got its truly uniqueness, especially considering how difficult it is to stand out these days. It could be said that it is an important film of its genre, as it uses a concept that would be considered a copy if seen in another film.

Oh… according to the latest news, this film has been the subject of a complaint for copyright infringement. Just goes to show! Another cultural gap for me.

I didn’t dislike ‘Together’. It’s okay! It has some great ideas… but there are always the usual formulas. In these films, either one or more characters go to the library, or they meet a bitter, traumatised or antisocial person to get information, or they have to find a wizard or someone who knows about voodoo or legends… But there are also films where one or more characters enter a house where they haven’t been invited, see no one, but (as luck would have it) there’s a screen on showing a short documentary that provides the final pieces of the puzzle.

I have a certain respect for this film, even if I didn’t love it either. But it’s full of subtle details and it’s not a film that sinks into gore and disappoints with its crassness. There’s a whole search for a first couple, with a rather disturbing intro scene featuring two dogs, which sets the tone for this dark comedy.

Once again, it takes a swipe at New Age and cults. But I’ve said enough already!

If you want to see it, go ahead. But if you want to see a truly disturbing, uncomfortable film with palpable tension throughout and no hint of humour, you might want to give it a miss.

The main couple reminds me of my own relationship. I am an artist who is dependent on my girlfriend, who is independent! And the curse in this film reinforces this state of fusion… but it’s hard to continue talking without giving away spoilers. But we are clearly dealing with body horror (The Fly, The Substance) and black comedy.

There are themes such as moving house and a new start for a couple in a different city, which are well done. The woman, Millie, has a good teaching job and is a little too sure of herself, while the man, Tim, doesn’t have a settled life, but understands more things. The neighbour will seem unbearable to some… but he’s a good character.

Originally, the director wanted to create a horror film that was ‘as scary and serious as possible’, but that was before he realised that the plot and the story seemed so absurd that he couldn’t do without laughter as well as thrills.

You have to wait until the final minutes to really get into the mythological mystery. I was troubled by this ending, but I think I totally buy into it, even though it gives the impression that it’s not completely finished. But no matter: the main thing is that it made me think for a while after the credits rolled about Plato’s aspiration for an ideal world! And if Plato says so…!

Yes, I’m not likely to forget this film and I’ll think about it often. And that doesn’t happen very often.

The final image is luminous. And the many people who say they saw the ending coming a mile away, or even light years away, are just people who think they’re geniuses, when in fact they just don’t know how to appreciate a film for what it’s worth.