00:00:00 --> 00:00:02 Chris: Horror movies used to be about monsters and
00:00:02 --> 00:00:04 killers, but lately they're tapping into
00:00:04 --> 00:00:07 something far more terrifying. The dark
00:00:07 --> 00:00:10 side of human relationships. This new
00:00:10 --> 00:00:13 film together takes that concept to a
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 whole new level of disturbing.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:17 Jessica: You know what's fascinating about this one?
00:00:18 --> 00:00:20 The way it transforms a simple story about
00:00:20 --> 00:00:23 moving to a small town into this absolutely
00:00:23 --> 00:00:25 nightmarish exploration of codependency.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:27 Chris: Well, let's break down what makes it so
00:00:27 --> 00:00:30 effective. We've got tim, this struggling
00:00:30 --> 00:00:33 35 year old musician who can't drive, and
00:00:33 --> 00:00:35 Millie, a teacher who's clearly the
00:00:35 --> 00:00:37 stabilizing force in their relationship.
00:00:37 --> 00:00:40 They've been together nearly 10 years, long
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 enough to develop those subtle relationship
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 dynamics that the film later twists into
00:00:45 --> 00:00:46 something horrifying.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:49 Jessica: And that's what makes the horror hit so much
00:00:49 --> 00:00:51 harder. Right, the way it takes such a
00:00:51 --> 00:00:53 relatable foundation and then completely
00:00:53 --> 00:00:54 destabilizes it.
00:00:55 --> 00:00:56 Chris: Exactly.
00:00:56 --> 00:00:59 And speaking of destabilizing, let's talk
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 about that pivotal scene in the woods.
00:01:01 --> 00:01:04 You've got this couple taking what should be
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 a simple walk, when suddenly they're caught
00:01:06 --> 00:01:09 in heavy rain, lost in unfamiliar
00:01:09 --> 00:01:11 territory. It's like, you know how
00:01:11 --> 00:01:13 relationships sometimes feel like you're lost
00:01:13 --> 00:01:16 together? Well, this film takes that
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 metaphor and runs with it in the most
00:01:19 --> 00:01:20 terrifying way possible.
00:01:21 --> 00:01:23 Jessica: Oh, man. And then there's that cave sequence.
00:01:24 --> 00:01:26 The way Tim slips in and Millie tries to help
00:01:26 --> 00:01:28 but gets pulled down too. It's like watching
00:01:28 --> 00:01:31 a relationship spiral out of control in real
00:01:31 --> 00:01:31 time.
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 Chris: And here's where director Michael Shanks
00:01:34 --> 00:01:37 really starts pushing boundaries. After Tim
00:01:37 --> 00:01:40 drinks from that mysterious pool, things get
00:01:40 --> 00:01:42 wild. The hallucinations, the loss of
00:01:42 --> 00:01:45 bodily control. It's like watching someone
00:01:45 --> 00:01:47 slowly realize they're trapped in their own
00:01:47 --> 00:01:50 skin. But what's really genius is how
00:01:50 --> 00:01:53 there's no explanation offered, it just
00:01:53 --> 00:01:55 happens and they have to deal with it.
00:01:56 --> 00:01:58 Jessica: Well, that's what makes it so effective as
00:01:58 --> 00:02:00 psychological horror, isn't it? The way it
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 plays on our fears of losing control, both of
00:02:03 --> 00:02:05 our bodies and our relationships.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 Chris: You know what's really interesting? The
00:02:08 --> 00:02:10 special effects they use to portray this
00:02:10 --> 00:02:12 magnetic attraction between them. It's
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 completely unique in the body horror genre.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:17 Uh, like we've seen all kinds of
00:02:17 --> 00:02:20 grotesque transformations before, but this
00:02:20 --> 00:02:22 forced physical connection, that's new
00:02:22 --> 00:02:23 territory.
00:02:24 --> 00:02:26 Jessica: And having real life couple Dave Franco and
00:02:26 --> 00:02:28 Alison Brie play these roles adds this whole
00:02:28 --> 00:02:31 other layer of authenticity, don't you think?
00:02:31 --> 00:02:34 Chris: Oh, absolutely. Franco especially
00:02:34 --> 00:02:36 brings this incredible naturalism to his
00:02:36 --> 00:02:39 performance. The way he maintains these
00:02:39 --> 00:02:40 disturbed expressions throughout the film.
00:02:41 --> 00:02:43 You can literally see the horror of their
00:02:43 --> 00:02:45 situation written across his face.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 And, um, let's not forget about those
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 backstory elements. The missing local
00:02:51 --> 00:02:54 couple, the dead dogs who drank from the same
00:02:54 --> 00:02:56 pool. It all creates this sense of
00:02:56 --> 00:02:58 inevitable doom.
00:02:58 --> 00:03:01 Jessica: That element of mystery really amplifies the
00:03:01 --> 00:03:04 horror, doesn't it? The fact that there's
00:03:04 --> 00:03:06 no explanation, no solution presented.
00:03:07 --> 00:03:09 It makes the whole situation feel so much
00:03:09 --> 00:03:10 more hopeless.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:13 Chris: And the setting, this isolated small country
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 town, the mysterious bushland, it
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 all contributes to this overwhelming sense of
00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 being trapped. There's no escape, no help
00:03:21 --> 00:03:23 coming. They're stuck together in this
00:03:23 --> 00:03:26 nightmare, both literally and figuratively.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:28 Jessica: So what do you think about how the film
00:03:28 --> 00:03:31 subverts these common relationship phrases,
00:03:31 --> 00:03:34 like I can't live without you becomes this
00:03:34 --> 00:03:35 literal curse?
00:03:36 --> 00:03:39 Chris: That's exactly what makes it so brilliant. It
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 takes these cliches about codependent
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 relationships and gives them this horrifying
00:03:43 --> 00:03:46 physical manifestation. Like, we
00:03:46 --> 00:03:48 all want closeness in our relationships,
00:03:48 --> 00:03:50 right? But where's the line between healthy
00:03:50 --> 00:03:53 attachment and dangerous codependency?
00:03:54 --> 00:03:55 This film takes those questions to their
00:03:55 --> 00:03:58 extreme horrifying conclusion.
00:03:58 --> 00:04:01 Jessica: Well, that gradual escalation really helps
00:04:01 --> 00:04:04 sell the horror, too. By the time we get to
00:04:04 --> 00:04:06 the really bizarre elements, we're already
00:04:06 --> 00:04:07 invested in these characters.
00:04:08 --> 00:04:11 Chris: And that's what makes together stand
00:04:11 --> 00:04:14 out in today's horror landscape. It's not
00:04:14 --> 00:04:17 just trying to shock or disgust. It's using
00:04:17 --> 00:04:19 horror elements to explore genuine human
00:04:19 --> 00:04:22 fears about relationships,
00:04:22 --> 00:04:24 dependency and loss of control.
00:04:25 --> 00:04:27 It proves that horror can be both
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 intellectually challenging and emotionally
00:04:30 --> 00:04:32 devastating while still delivering those
00:04:32 --> 00:04:33 visceral scares.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:36 Jessica: You know what's really going to stick with
00:04:36 --> 00:04:38 viewers? The way it makes you question your
00:04:38 --> 00:04:41 own relationships and dependencies long after
00:04:41 --> 00:04:42 the credits roll.
00:04:42 --> 00:04:44 Chris: Well, that's the mark of truly effective
00:04:44 --> 00:04:47 horror, isn't it? When it follows you home,
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 it makes you look at your own life
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 differently. This film might be about a
00:04:51 --> 00:04:53 supernatural force binding two people
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 together, but it really makes you think about
00:04:55 --> 00:04:58 the invisible forces that bind us all in our
00:04:58 --> 00:05:00 relationships. We're giving together a score
00:05:00 --> 00:05:02 of seven and a half out of ten.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 Voice Over Guy: You've been listening to movies first
00:05:04 --> 00:05:07 available at Apple Podcasts, Spotify,
00:05:07 --> 00:05:10 iHeartRadio or your favorite podcast
00:05:10 --> 00:05:12 player. You can also stream on
00:05:12 --> 00:05:14 demand at bitesz.com This has been another
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 quality podcast production from
00:05:16 --> 00:05:17 bitesz.com