Sydney Film Festival 2025 - Together

 “I need you”

Gross, gory and grotesque, Together is an ooey gooey date night movie for those with a strong stomach that explores themes of intimacy and codependency through brilliant body horror in an oddly romantic and darkly comedic with fantastic special effects and great lead performances. 

Discussion Points:

This is exactly what I except from an indie body horror screening at a film festival. Unsubtle themes, good scares, great prosthetics and a darkly comedic tone - which all combine to give us this year’s The Substance. But instead of beauty being the thematic target, Together takes aim at codependency and intimacy to grotesquely grizzly results. Real life couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie bring their authentic chemistry and comedic timing into this long-term relationship that is on the rocks. Franco’s Tim is still chasing his adolescent dream of being a musician, whilst Brie’s Millie is ready to settle down, get married and live the quiet suburban life. But after a strange evening in a cultish cave, the two can’t keep their hands off each other, despite their emotional distance. Damon Herriman is suitably disconcerting as Jaime, their neighbour and Millie’s coworker whose overt friendliness disguises something far more sinister. As the horror increases, so do the impressive VFX and make-up work as the thematic elements becomes viscerally realised with some classic body contorting flesh merging madness and the ending set to the Spice Girls “2 Become 1” is destined to become iconic. Overall, it’s not subtle in its themes, but it is substantial - with some solid scares, fantastic effects and a great dark comedic script that’s both hilarious and heartfelt. An ooey gooey date night movie for those with a strong stomach.