The body horror film Together, written and directed by Michael Shanks, is set to premiere in theaters on July 30. The movie stars real-life married couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco, both bringing their personal relationship into their performances. The film explores a couple’s intense journey through supernatural terror and emotional rawness as they navigate a major life change together.
Behind the Scenes: The Real-life Couple’s Experience Making ‘Together’
Recently, Alison Brie and Dave Franco sat down to discuss their experiences working on Together, marking their first film collaboration as a married couple in leading roles. They reflected on their initial reactions to the screenplay, the challenge of portraying a deeply intimate and disturbing story, and how their personal connection influenced their acting. Additionally, they shared the unique pressures of filming the movie in just 21 days, demonstrating a tight-knit and highly focused production process.
How Dave Franco Discovered the Project and Saw Its Potential
Dave Franco first connected with director Michael Shanks while discussing an unrelated script. Their conversation shifted to a shared passion for horror movies, during which Shanks mentioned a script he had been holding onto for some time. Franco read the screenplay for Together and was immediately impressed by its originality and the impact of its scenes.
“So, I met Michael Shanks, because we were discussing another film that he wrote, during that meeting, that film kind of got pushed to the side, and we just started bonding over horror movies. He was like, ‘I’ve had this script sitting around for a long time. I think you might really like it,’ and so he sent me the script for ‘Together’. I read it, and I was just like, ‘This is one of the most innovative scripts I’ve ever read. These set pieces are unbelievable.’ I turned to Alison, and I was like, ‘I think we should do this together, because our real relationship could help inform these characters in the movie, who have been together for over a decade, and hopefully we could add some real kind of history and weight to that relationship.'” —Dave Franco, Actor
Franco was confident that the authentic dynamic he and Brie share as a married couple would enrich their characters, who are also tied by a long-lasting relationship in the film.
The Emotional and Physical Demands Alison Brie Faced in Her Role
Alison Brie reflected on the intense emotional depths she had to reach for her role, emphasizing how working opposite her real-life husband enhanced the performance’s authenticity. She described the experience as emotionally and physically challenging, setting new boundaries for their on-screen intimacy.
“I do feel like there were so many advantages to doing this together, and to your point, emotionally, yes, but physically, there was stuff we were doing every day that we truly finished every day of filming, going, ‘We couldn’t do this with anyone else.’ It was all new levels of intimacy, even for us, but the best part of working with Dave is just that trust. We trust each other so much. We have worked together before. We respect each other. We work in the same way. I think that I am at my best as a performer when I’m acting opposite Dave or in front of Dave when he’s directing me, just because I can’t be false. He knows me better than anyone. I do think it brings out some of my truest work. Our non-verbal communication is high.” —Alison Brie, Actress
Brie emphasized the profound trust that existed on set, highlighting how their communication went beyond words, making the intense scenes authentic and believable.
Dave Franco on Directing Alison Brie and Their On-Set Dynamic
Franco shared insights into the experience of directing Alison Brie during some of their joint projects, praising her professionalism and intuition. He described rare moments when he would approach her to offer direction, only to find she had already anticipated and executed what he intended to suggest.
“In the two times that I’ve directed her, in the rare moments when I would come up to give her a note, I’d be walking towards her, and often, she’d be like, ‘I know. I got it. Go back to the monitors.’ Then I’d go back to the monitors, and she’d do exactly what I was going to tell her.” —Dave Franco, Actor and Director
This dynamic demonstrated a deep mutual understanding, further strengthening their on-screen and off-screen collaboration.
Adjusting the Character of Tim: Making the Role More Relatable
Before filming began, Dave Franco worked closely with director Michael Shanks to modify aspects of his character, Tim, to make him more understandable and less alienating to the audience. The character originated as a darker version of Shanks, reflecting the director’s own fears and insecurities about how others perceive him.
“So, Michael Shanks very loosely based the relationship in the movie on his own, sixteen-year relationship, and he kind of made my character, which is a version of him, the worst version of him. He was like, ‘This is how I fear people are looking at me. This is just all my darkest places in my head.’ I was like, ‘I get that, but on the page, this guy is an a**hole, and no one will be rooting for this guy.’ So, it was truly minor character adjustments, just making sure that his a**hole-ness was kind of coming from a relatable place of just being a tortured guy.” —Dave Franco, Actor
These tweaks helped humanize Tim, making his flaws and conflicts more accessible to viewers while preserving the story’s emotional complexity.
Balancing Roles: Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Producers
Besides acting, Alison Brie and Dave Franco also took on producer responsibilities for Together. Brie acknowledged the pressures of managing multiple roles during the film’s rapid 21-day shoot, which demanded constant problem-solving as unexpected challenges arose.
“A little bit. I mean, we had great support. We had a lot of great producers on this, but there certainly were days where you’re wearing both hats. We’re doing the craziest contorting on set, and then turning to figure out if we’re losing a location or what’s happening. That can always be stressful. Again, it’s wonderful to have my husband there, and truly, we were such a great team with Shanks. It really felt like the three of us are in this together collaborating, making this movie, problem solving together, so we just had a good thing going.” —Alison Brie, Actress and Producer
Their close collaboration with director Michael Shanks contributed to a unified, agile filmmaking effort under tight time constraints, strengthening the overall production.
Plot Overview: How ‘Together’ Explores a Couple’s Fractured Relationship
Together tells the story of a long-term couple who relocate from the city to the countryside, a decision that strains their once stable relationship. Years into their partnership, Alison Brie’s character Millie and Dave Franco’s character Tim face rising tensions amplified by a terrifying and supernatural event. This encounter triggers a disturbing transformation threatening not just their bond but their very bodies.
The film examines themes of intimacy, vulnerability, and the evolving dynamics of love under extreme emotional and physical pressure, all set against an unsettling horror backdrop.
Main Cast Members of ‘Together’
- Dave Franco as Tim
- Alison Brie as Millie
- Damon Herriman as Jamie
- Jack Kenny as Luke
- Karl Richmond as Jordy
- Charlie Lees as Male #1
- MJ Dorning as Male #2
- Tom Considine as Mr. Wilson
- Melanie Beddie as Mrs. Wilson
- Sarah Lang as Keri
- Rob Brown as Chaplin
The cast features a strong ensemble supporting the lead couple, contributing to the narrative’s mounting suspense and emotional intensity.
Previous Films Starring Both Alison Brie and Dave Franco
- The Little Hours (2017)
- The Disaster Artist (2017)
- The Rental (2020)
- Somebody I Used to Know (2023)
- Together (2025)
Throughout their careers, Brie and Franco have occasionally collaborated, but Together marks their first major joint starring roles in a psychological horror film, bringing a new level of shared creative investment to their work.
Significance and Expected Impact of ‘Together’
Together explores deeply unsettling themes through a horror lens, challenging typical portrayals of romantic relationships by presenting an intense, visceral examination of intimacy and fear. The film’s unique combination of personal connection between its leads and innovative storytelling techniques could influence future projects in the body horror genre.
The fact that Alison Brie and Dave Franco bring their real-life marriage into the film offers audiences an added layer of authenticity and emotional weight, likely drawing interest from both horror enthusiasts and fans of the couple’s previous work. The fast-paced production, completed in just three weeks, demonstrates their commitment and the collaborative spirit that defined the process.
As Together debuts in theaters on July 30, it will be closely watched for its bold approach to horror and relationship drama, potentially setting a new standard for films combining the two.
