Stanisland Magazine

Husband and wife team James Franco and Alison Brie test their marriage on and off camera in their upcoming body-horror movie — Together

Upcoming horror film Together has earned widespread applause from audiences before it’s even dropped. It paints a picture of varying subject matter, painting an emotional rollercoaster of terror and compromise.

Together Plot and Themes

Many have described the movie as a metaphor for codependency in relationships, built upon stirring detachment from independence.

The plot sees real-life married couple James Franco (Tim) and Alison Brie (Millie) relocate to the countryside to repair their failing marriage. However, they get more than they bargained for following an encounter with a terrifying supernatural force that literally forces them to be together.

A Strict Production

The film was shot on a stringent deadline in Melbourne, Australia within 21 days. With heavy practical effects, the actors weren’t even allowed to separate during bathroom breaks. This perhaps adds to its intensity, with many calling it a visceral assault of nausea.

Neon acquired the rights to the film in a $17 million bidding war following production by 30West, Tango Entertainment, Picturestart, 1.21, and Princess Pictures.

Critical Response

Though viewings of the production are limited, there are some indications that it is one to watch, while others say it’s one to miss. The Guardian called it a “slickly and sickly made thriller,” though mentioned its pacing can feel off. Variety described it as decent outing, though at times may prompt the audience to “scream with laughter”. Collider said it’s “not hugely memorable beyond the horror,” but still worth watching.

“Idea Theft” and Lawsuit

Director Michael Shanks was forced to discuss the ideas and origins of the movie following a claim that he stole the idea from the 2023 screenplay, “Better Half“. The film’s studio has called it a “blatant rip-off,” with shared elements such as Plato’s Symposium and the Spice Girl’s “2 Become 1.” In a statement he said:

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“Have you ever been in a relationship so long that the line between you and the other person starts to blur? I’ve been with my partner for over 16 years — almost half my life.

That entanglement of identity, love, and co-dependence is what inspired Together. It’s not just a script; it’s a reflection of something deeply personal. Tim’s story, his love for Millie, his relationship to his family, his relationship to unfulfilled ambitions as a musician, is completely rooted in my own personal life. I lost my father at a young age in the same way our main character does, his trauma is rooted in my own. To have this called into question is not only deeply upsetting but entirely untrue.”

Shanks goes on to say that he filed the first draft of the script in 2019, registering it with the Writers’ Guild of America the same year.

“I received development funding from Screen Australia to further the project. In 2022, my agent at WME introduced me to Dave Franco. From the very first meeting, we bonded over our love of horror, and I pitched him “Together” — a script I had been trying to get into production for years, with no luck.”

StudioFest also claims that their script was sent to Dave Franco and Alison Brie’s agents at WME in August 2020; however, they declined to participate. However, the company claim that once they “learned that Franco and Brie were producing and starring in a virtually identical film entitled Together, written and directed by another WME client—Michael Shanks” they pursued litigation.

Release Date

The film is slated for release on the 15th August 2025. However, European audiences may get an earlier cinematic reveal towards the end of July. It will be an exclusive theatrical presentation before streaming services.