TOGETHER – Dave Franco, Alison Brie… and a Curse!

TOGETHER is directed by Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie.

Millie and Tim, a teacher and aspiring musician, respectively, take a chance and leave behind their life in the city, moving to a rural cabin. Following an experience where they find themselves stranded in a cave during a storm, a strange curse overtakes the twosome, where they’re literally drawn to one another, their two bodies fighting to become one. What’s the nature of this curse, and what does it mean for the two young lovers?

TOGETHER is a horror film combining real-life couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie, putting them in a situation with their relationship struggling, as they face strange goings-on. While the movie does have some intriguing ideas, it ultimately collapses under the lack of chemistry of its leads (surprising given that they’re a couple in real life) and attempts at horror that end up feeling unintentionally hilarious.

The promise of TOGETHER is interesting enough; I’ve never seen a horror movie with an element quite like this one. Seeing the two literally drawn together makes for some grotesque and surreal moments, and the film certainly doesn’t skimp on violent content.

Unfortunately, almost nothing else in the movie works. The biggest problem is the two leads. You’d never guess Dave Franco and Alison Brie are a couple in real life, because the two have no on-screen chemistry together. The relationship between the two is completely unbelievable, and neither character is particularly likeable. You know there’s something wrong with your movie when the two leads are the least likeable characters, and nearly every member of the unused supporting cast is far more interesting. The biggest supporting character is a mysterious gay man also employed at Millie’s school. Why aren’t we getting this story from his point of view? He’s a hell of a lot more interesting and charismatic than our so-called heroes.

I’m not sure if TOGETHER is supposed to be a horror movie or a horror comedy. There aren’t enough jokes for the latter (although a scene involving a quickie in a school bathroom and the curse got a few laughs out of me), and the intentionally comic tone in places certainly works against the former. It’s a middle-of-the-road affair between the two extremes. Despite a 102-minute running time, it still feels like it’s dragging endlessly and could’ve used some more judicious editing.

TOGETHER never quite, pardon the pun, comes together. There’s plenty of talent on deck but the lack of chemistry or interesting lead characters, not to mention the tonal inconsistencies and confusion, do the film no favors. It’s not quite clear who this movie was made for, and I despite the occasional highlights, I can’t recommend it.