Plot: What’s it about?
I can’t see me lovin’ nobody but you
For all my life
When you’re with me, baby, the skies’ll be blue
For all my life
It’s been over a quarter of a century since I started this site and now I can finally use some lyrics from “Happy Together” by the Turtles. My life has taken one more step towards completion. Kidding, of course. But when I received Together, I wasn’t quite sure what to think. I try my best not to judge a book by its cover (or in this case a Blu-ray), but when I saw two eyes that looked like they were merging into one, well…it gets my mind wandering. I’ve been a fan of Dave Franco’s for a while, but it’s been some time since I’ve seen him in anything memorable. Would this one break that trend? Add to that, he’s starring with his real-life wife, Alison Brie. Interesting. Horror movies are best with a “less is more” mentality about them, so let’s hope they did this one right. If not, I can say I tried.
Tim (Dave Franco) and Millie (Alison Brie) have been together for quite some time. They’ve recently moved from the city to the country and though Tim isn’t quite on board with the plan, he’s willing to give it a go. The couple have a bit of stress in their relationship already, but during a hike in the woods they get trapped in a cave. Adding fuel to the fire, they drink some water from an odd-looking pool inside. I can only imagine if there was ever a time for a “Don’t Drink the Water” sign, it’d be now. In the days following this event, the couple find their bodies literally trying to fuse together.
That “less is more” approach that I alluded to above does, in fact, come into play here and it works. The plot is simple enough that it’s easy to follow and we really don’t need much more. Granted, I could have delved a bit more into the intricacies of what happens, but it’s best if we let the story play out as intended. Both Franco and Brie are accomplished, seasoned actors and their real-life rapport brings a genuine sense of honesty to their respective roles. Writer/Director Michael Shanks seems to have created something quite unique here and though the movie isn’t perfect (some mistimed attempts of humor left a bad taste in my mouth), by and large it’s a very unique and original watch. If you’re a fan of the genre, the actors or just a strange film – this one is for you.
Video: How’s it look?
Presented in an AVC HD encode of 1.85:1, Together looks the part especially considering it’s a new-to-the-format film. Would we expect any less? I think we all know the answer to that question. The film tends to lean towards the darker side of the color spectrum, but given the film’s tone it does make sense. Detail is excellent, which in this case might be more of a detriment, but by and large we get a nice, well-rounded transfer with solid contrast and a nice, overall picture.
Audio: How’s it sound?
The film’s DTS HD Master Audio mix is a bit underutilized here with a thunderstorm being the film’s highlight in the audio department. The vocals, which drive the film, are the center of attention (pardon the home theater pun) though the front stage has a nice, even feel to it. While surrounds aren’t used a whole lot, when they are they add a lot to the mix. It’s a decent track, just nothing memorable.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Interview with Writer/Director Michael Shanks – Running just a tad over five minutes, the director regales us with his thoughts on the movie, the concept and working with a real-life married couple.
- Interview with Alison Brie and Dave Franco – Essentially the same as above, we get some thoughts on the film, working with one another and so forth. It’s nothing mind-blowing, but nice to have.
- Alison Brie & Dave Franco’s Codependency Quiz – Running all of one minute, we get the husband and wife as they field questions on their relationship. I guess since they’re still married, they passed?
- Theatrical Trailer
The Bottom Line
This is an odd one, for sure. Like many great horror films, certain scenes stick with you. And, to me, that’s a good thing. I’ve always liked Dave Franco and don’t really keep up with “celebrity news” so I had no idea that he and Alison Brie were married. How about that? If you can handle the subject matter, this is one I’ll revisit again.
