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Michael Shanks’ feature debut Together just premiered at the Sydney Film Festival — and it’s already got the internet talking. A blend of relationship drama and body horror, this freaky little film takes the concept of emotional baggage and turns it into actual, slimy baggage.
What Happens in Together
Millie (Alison Brie), a schoolteacher, and Tim (Dave Franco), a struggling musician, decide to move to a remote countryside town. What should’ve been a new chapter quickly turns into a horror story when the couple discovers a mysterious cave in the woods. One touch later, and they start… merging. Not emotionally. Physically.
Yes, really. Think Marriage Story meets The Thing, but with more goop and less therapy.
Why Fans Are Talking
First off, Brie and Franco, married in real life, lean hard into the cringe chemistry of a couple clearly past their expiry date. Their passive-aggressive banter, awkward silences, and petty digs feel almost too real — which is exactly why it hits so hard when they begin fusing into a grotesque human blob.
Director Michael Shanks (best known for his YouTube work) revealed at the Sydney premiere that his own past relationship woes inspired the story. And it shows. The metaphors aren’t subtle, but they’re served with a wink.
“It’s the ultimate codependent horror story,” one festival-goer tweeted. “Gross and hilarious — just like real love.”
Horror, But Make It Funny
What saves Together from becoming just another indie gross-out is its wicked sense of humour. The film doesn’t take itself too seriously — and thank god for that. Shanks walks a fine line between grotesque and goofy, delivering jump scares with a side of dark laughs.
The special effects, all practical, are wonderfully icky. But underneath all the slime is a surprisingly sharp take on emotional manipulation, long-term resentment, and the fear of being alone.
A Few Wobbly Bits
Sure, the film slips now and then. The “American town” setting doesn’t quite mask its Aussie roots, and a late-in-the-game trauma reveal feels a little forced. But those are tiny stumbles in an otherwise tight, punchy debut.
The Verdict
Together is one of those films you’ll either squirm through or cackle at — or both. It’s messy, literal, and delightfully unhinged. For anyone who’s ever stayed too long in a relationship that was going nowhere (but fast), this horror-comedy might hit a little too close to home. And that’s what makes it such a wild ride.
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