TOGETHER Film Review – The Horrors of Codependency

From Sundance to SXSW

Together made its debut at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and instantly became one of the most talked-about titles, igniting a bidding war that ended with Neon obtaining the distribution rights for an impressive $17 million – one of the biggest Sundance deals on record. With A24 also vying for the film, it’s clear that anticipation for its theatrical run is high, especially as it’s scheduled for release on August 1st, 2025.

I had the chance to catch its Texas Premiere during SXSW at The Paramount Theatre, and Neon was already reaching into its marketing bag. From handing out very specific water bottles before the screening to live contortionists performing on stage before the showing, they were doing their best to push the film. To top it off, as we exited the theatre, Neon employees were there to hand us an extra special gift – a packet of lube (no spoilers here).

What is Together About?

On the surface, Together is about Tim and Millie (Dave Franco and Alison Brie), a long-term couple who relocate to the countryside, leaving behind the familiarity of their old lives. Their move represents a fresh start, but the cracks in their relationship are already showing. What begins as an intimate exploration of identity and codependency rapidly spirals into unsettling territory as an enigmatic, unnatural force infiltrates their lives – and ultimately, their bodies.

For director Michael Shanks, Together represents an impressively ambitious feature debut. He crafts a personal yet deeply visceral experience, rooted in an anxiety familiar to many long-term couples: the creeping fear of losing oneself in a relationship, slipping gradually into a codependence so pervasive that neither partner can define themselves without the other.

Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a Real Life Couple

Having starred together in previous films like The Disaster Artist, The Rental, and Somebody I Used to Know, real-life partners Dave Franco and Alison Brie naturally bring a relaxed chemistry and genuine intimacy to their roles in Together. Director Michael Shanks has indicated that casting any other actors would have made the project impossible. Their closeness translated literally during filming, with the two sometimes spending entire days physically “stuck” together – even forced into joint bathroom breaks.

Striking a Balance Between Humour and Horror

Right from its initial shots – featuring a search party and dogs drinking from an unsettling fountain – Together immediately grips your attention, withholding any explanations. Suddenly, though, the tone shifts sharply and unpredictably from menacing and tense to hilarious. These dramatic tonal shifts can be risky, but they’re handled skillfully here.

The first act, in particular, is genuinely funny, effectively lulling you into a false sense of security – until the “horror” finally strikes. And when it hits, it hits hard; at one point, I literally jumped out of my seat after becoming far too comfortable.

These constant tonal fluctuations are masterfully reinforced by the film’s sound design. Rather than relying on cheap jump scares, the film employs sound thoughtfully, sometimes loud and overwhelming, other times quiet and insidiously subtle.

Visually, the cinematography echoes this contrast. Claustrophobic, shadowy indoor scenes are juxtaposed against vivid, green outdoor landscapes, creating a sensory tug-of-war that mirrors the internal struggles of the characters, particularly Dave Franco’s Tim.

Horror as a Metaphor for Codependency

At its heart, Together is about the unsettling fear of losing your identity within the confines of a relationship. The horror elements give physical shape to this fear, moving beyond simple metaphor into literal manifestations. Still, the film resists becoming purely critical of codependency. It also depicts the beauty possible within committed love, even while acknowledging the scary reality of commitment.

Anyone who’s navigated a long-term partnership will find plenty to relate to here – the creeping anxieties of codependency, blurred identities, and loss of autonomy. Occasionally, the dialogue addresses these themes almost too bluntly, but the film’s strength emerges in how its horror elements deepen these ideas, elevating them into something much more interesting than a more traditional relationship drama.

Should You Watch Together?

Together is simultaneously a horror film, a comedy, and a love story. While it doesn’t necessarily reinvent any of these genres, it does achieve an effective balance. The writing is sharp, Brie and Franco bring their authentic off-screen chemistry into their performances, and both the sound design and visual style keep viewers uncertain. At its strongest, the film pushes you to examine your own relationships.

And, as someone who walked out of the Paramount Theatre clutching a packet of lube, I can confidently say: Neon knows exactly what they’re doing with this one.