[6]
Dave Franco and Alison Brie (actors who are married in real life) play co-dependent partners having problems with sex and commitment. On a hike through the woods they fall into a cave and drink from a mysterious pool that poisons them in a pretty horrific way: their skin begins adhering to one another like glue. When they finally have sex, they have trouble uncoupling. They fight their bodies’ uncontrollable urges to join, but soon their flesh melds together, making the use of electrical cutting instruments necessary. Eventually the two realize the horror won’t end until one of them dies — or they surrender to the terrifying merger.
I love the idea behind Together, written and directed by Michael Shanks, and how the script escalates to a third act that delivers on the concept’s promise. There are memorable moments of body horror, and the mystery of the poison is explained — at least partially — in a satisfying way, too. The only thing that keeps me from really liking this movie is that I do not like these characters at all. I’ve enjoyed Dave Franco in other movies, but here he’s a pathetic, whipped man who can’t even drive himself places. He’s clearly a burden to Alison Brie’s character, but she inexplicably puts up with him — making her character dubious as well.
Making these characters fear sex, marriage, and sacrifice is clearly to make their fate all the more disturbing. But I think the idea of physically merging into one being would scare anyone — codependent or not. If these characters were more likable and charismatic, and weren’t so passive-aggressive, or maybe if they just flat-out hated each other’s guts, I think I might have enjoyed Together more than I did. It’s still worth checking out for sheer originality and several moments of genuine horror, though.
With Damon Herriman.