Breaking Down the Grotesque Ending of Dave Franco and Alison Brie’s Buzzy Body Horror Together

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If you’re into unsettling body horror films that can be seen as symbolic representations of codependency, then you might find Michael Shanks’ first directorial effort, “Together“, to be your top pick of this summer’s movies.

Titled “Together“, the movie features Dave Franco and Alison Brie playing Tim and Millie, a couple who’ve grown complacent after a decade of dating. The film explores the dread we all feel about long-term relationship issues, making these concerns tangible through gripping, physical portrayals.

The plot unfolds as Tim and Millie relocate from the city to a secluded rural town, where Millie has landed a teaching position. Their relationship is already strained, but things take a turn for the worse when an ordinary hike ends up as an unexpected overnight stay in a bizarre, possibly supernatural subterranean cave. Matters escalate further when they discover they have an unsettling, involuntary attraction to each other—a development that becomes increasingly uncomfortable to watch.

As a film enthusiast, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of “Together,” a movie that made heads turn at Sundance and was later acquired by Neon for an impressive $17 million. Despite facing a copyright lawsuit over unfounded accusations of idea theft, which the director, Shanks, has vehemently denied as “devastating” yet “entirely untrue,” the film has proven its resilience and artistic merit.

On July 30, it graced our cinemas, and predictions suggest that it will gross an estimated $11 million during its initial five-day run. The critical acclaim for this movie is overwhelming, with a nearly perfect approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. I can’t wait to see it myself and experience the cinematic masterpiece that “Together” promises to be.

Regardless, your feelings towards the surprises in Together‘s third act may vary based on whether you prefer straightforward or more complex explanations in horror movies. Here’s a look at how this intriguing blend of body-horror and drama concludes.

More show, less tell

Overwhelmed by an intense desire to be together, Tim and Millie find themselves gradually merging physically, leading them to use muscle relaxants to halt this bizarre fusion. Desperate to stop it completely, they resort to using a buzzsaw to part their conjoined arms. With their brief separation, Millie rushes to her colleague Jamie’s house next door, where she had inadvertently left her car keys, while Tim revisits the mysterious woodland cave where their predicament originated.

that Jamie was originally two individuals who chose to undergo this process and eventually became one. Unfortunately, Millie is unable to leave the house before Jamie inflicts a violent wound on her arm.

In the heart of an underground lair, I stumble upon the pair rumored about – missing since they ventured into the forest before our arrival here. To my shock, they’re not just lost but horrifically fused together as a grotesque mutant form; a grim reminder of Jamie’s ominous warning. The cult behind this ritual and the supernatural water that triggers the transformation remain shrouded in mystery, yet the ‘show, don’t tell’ technique ensures the movie steers clear of getting entangled in its own mythology.

After they both return home, Tim is determined to give up his life to halt the transformation and let Millie carry on living. However, upon expressing his eternal love for her, Millie unveils her injury and shows she’s willing to meet her own demise before succumbing to unconsciousness due to blood loss.

Spice up your life

When Millie stirs awake within the house, she understands that Tim has somehow joined their arms together to sustain her life. They mutually agree to let this change unfold and complete their unity, as Jamie referred to it. With this in mind, they clasp each other tightly and merge physically, all while the Spice Girls’ “2 Become 1” plays in the background, symbolizing their transformation process.

During that weekend visit, as Millie’s parents (Tom Considine and Melanie Beddie) come to the house, it is Tillie – a blend of Tim and Millie – who opens the door, demonstrating the transformation is now complete. Moreover, a bell, symbolizing the cult, can be noticed hanging at Tillie’s entrance, which might suggest they have embraced the cult’s ideology and potentially aim to convert Millie’s parents next.

In essence, Shanks mentioned that the narrative of the movie draws parallels, “in multiple aspects,” to his 16-year partnership. He explained this to Slant, stating, “The characters in the film have been together for over a decade, mirroring Dave and Alison’s long-term relationship. They portray an abstract representation of our relationship, but in a more intense, chaotic, and unkind manner. The audience can sense their history as they infuse emotional honesty and history into their on-screen performances.

Based on Shanks describing the ending as “a romantic and affectionate conclusion,” it can be inferred that the filmmaker primarily envisioned the movie as a love story rather than a warning tale. However, Brie issued a word of caution for couples intending to watch Together: “I believe if couples leave our movie and later split up, perhaps their relationship wasn’t destined to last.

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2025-08-01 17:51