Sundance Review: “Together”

Together (Michael Shanks, 2025) 4 out of 5 stars

Commitment is scary for many, but in Michael Shanks’ Together, it turns into an actual horror movie. While it’s nearly impossible to commend the film without spoiling its twisty conceit, be prepared for equal parts romance and disgust. While it sounds like the kind of idea that could go very wrong, Together shapes up as an excitingly fresh and fun debut for Shanks as he takes the idea of “soulmates” to its gruesome conclusion.

The soulmates in question are Tim and Millie, played by real-life married couple Dave Franco (Day Shift) and Alison Brie (Happiest Season). The state of Tim and Millie’s relationship can be summed up by the silence that follows Millie asking Tim to marry her. Perhaps it’s the awful death of his father that still haunts him or the fact that he’s in his thirties and realizing his rock career isn’t going as planned, but he can’t figure out why he’s afraid to take the next step with his beautiful and put-together long-term girlfriend. After they move to the countryside so she can take a teaching position, an accident while hiking threatens to completely deconstruct their relationship for better or worse.

There is no shortage of rocky-relationships-as-horror-setups, but Together’s is set apart by the fact that their apparent incompatibility doesn’t stop you from wanting them to somehow find happiness with each other. This could not have worked as well with any other two leads. Franco and Brie are completely immersed in these roles, and it’s no surprise that they share a comfortable chemistry with each other.

They’re both equally game for the humor and horror found within. Shanks has a playful handle on the most intense scenes, allowing them to veer into the comical when at their peak. Brie and Franco play into this, and what ends up being most funny about these scenes is the fact that they feel true to how similarly we would react in such a situation.

The fears here also work because they speak to real-life desires. Through this lens, it creates a completely unique approach to body horror, and the design and makeup that make it come to life appear so new. Every part of this movie serves these strengths, from Germain McMicking’s steady cinematography to the grotesque set design. Although Together might not be anything monumental, the twists in it are so well set up that it feels like it might be. Turning vulnerability into horror and humor, Shanks perfectly merges terror and romance to create something wholly original. 

Hannah Tran

Hannah Tran is a filmmaker, writer, and friendly neighborhood barista from Las Vegas. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in Film and English and is currently working on her first feature film. In her spare time, she can be found attending film festivals, running a local book club, and, of course, devouring as many movies as possible.