Romance oftentimes finds its story told best in tandem with the horror genre, as it allows for a malleable weaving of what it’s trying to say, especially when tackling the hardships relationships experience in a more grandiose display. The clash of love, struggle, and tension is nothing new—we all experience these issues, and they’ve been portrayed in film and television repeatedly. Filmmakers finding new and interesting ways to utilize that experience can be tricky. However, I find Together to work incredibly well in its execution and presentation throughout.

About a decade into their relationship, Tim and Millie already show signs of hardship ahead as they begin to question each other and the strength of their relationship. As they say goodbye to their friends in the city, they’re ready to start a new life deep within a small country town. Millie begins her career as a promising school teacher, hoping to better connect with the children in a small community. Tim, with a once-promising music career behind him, has been dropped by his label and struggles to find himself amidst the overwhelming trauma he experienced not long ago. Tim and Millie are at completely different stages in both their lives and their relationship. Beginning their new life together inevitably sets off a downward spiral of personal discovery and questions about what their love truly means.

Some of the best horror in this film comes from Tim’s trauma and what haunts him. The moments where he experiences those memories—or something new—often occur in darkness, whether in bed at night, the cave he and Millie discover, or his office in the house. Tim is a fairly miserable character—one the audience may initially dislike due to his choices and demeanor. But the presentation and balance between Tim and Millie’s chemistry is very rewarding by the end, as you watch Tim struggle relentlessly after leaving the cave, and his situation worsens. His increasingly absurd condition is something Millie finds difficult to understand, as his path toward healing is a slow build, one that requires him to face the darkness he’s so deeply enveloped in.

Together provides some fun body horror that never goes too grotesque. I’ve seen some people describe it as an “entry-level” body horror film, which is pretty spot-on. The body horror used here creates some genuinely funny moments in the second half of the film, as both characters begin to understand their situation a bit more.There’s something frightening about falling in love. It’s the most overwhelming emotional experience, filled with massive highs and gut-wrenching lows. It’s what makes us human, and it’s what tests us at every step along the way. Everyone’s a bit of a hot mess and can fuck things up—but ultimately, we learn to grow in some form, no matter the situation. Writer and director Michael Shanks, along with real-life couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie, capture the highs and lows fairly effortlessly, while finding ways to inject humor into an otherwise uncomfortable body horror film. Together delivers a gripping ride and stands above many other films from the year with its compelling, engaging ideas, most of which work best if you go in knowing nothing.

Written & Directed by: Michael Shanks

Cast: Dave Franco, Alison Brie, Damon Herriman, Mia Morrissey