Together -SXSW Review

I remember a time when I would go see a movie not just for the feature presentation but for the trailers attached to it as well. Now, I dislike trailers. I haven’t lost the excitement I get from seeing them, but I’ve realized that trailers today can reveal too much. There’s a special joy in walking into a movie, knowing nothing about it beforehand, and loving what you just experienced afterwards.

I hadn’t seen the trailer for Together, and when I sat down to watch it, all I knew was that Alison Brie and Dave Franco starred in it—and for me, that was enough. Holy shit, what a ride. This is the kind of movie that makes you give a chef’s kiss and say out loud, cinema.

Millie (Alison Brie) and Tim (Dave Franco) have been together for about ten years. When they first met, Tim was trying to launch a music career, but as time passed, it was Millie who found success in her job. That success led them to leave the city for a rural area after she accepted a teaching job, wanting the chance to make a real difference with smaller groups of kids. Meanwhile, Tim is having a mid-life crisis at thirty-five—he doesn’t want to leave the city or abandon his dreams of making music.

When they arrive at their new home, things aren’t going well for Tim, while Millie seems to be fitting right in. At school, she meets their neighbor Jamie (Damon Herriman), who is also a teacher. Wanting to take advantage of their new surroundings, Tim and Millie go on a hike. But when they get lost and fall into a hole, they find themselves trapped. With no way out, they’re forced to spend the night. Their supplies are low, but they discover a source of drinkable water inside the cave. Those sips quench their thirst—but unbeknownst to them, it will soon bring them together in a way no one could have imagined.

Written and directed by Michael Shanks, Together is a clever body horror film that seamlessly blends gross-out horror with a rom-com. The pacing is fantastic, delivering just enough scares that, during my screening, a girl next to me whispered, “I’m scared.” If you love horror, that’s the ultimate sign of approval. Shanks knows exactly how to craft scares and unsettling moments.

Together is unlike anything I’ve seen before—it explores attachment and love through a lens that will make you think. The horror and humor often arrive at unexpected moments, and they’re woven together in a truly compelling way. Shanks’ story is unique and provocative, and Brie and Franco bring it to life with performances that radiate personal energy.

Together is one of the most engaging and fun experiences you’ll have in a theater—I say that because it was for me. Shanks has hit the bullseye with his debut, and thanks to him and the incredible cast, they have created something special. So if you want a true film experience, skip the trailer for Together and jump in the deep end on this one.