Cinema’Ajuntos’ tries to be uncomfortable, but it is shy and disappointing body horror

From the first disclosure materials, Together seemed to be one of the most uncomfortable films of the year, bringing a couple in crisis – lived by Alison Brie (The Comedy of Sins) and Dave Franco (The Rental) – whose relationship is put to the test after a trip to the countryside and a meeting with the supernatural.

However, the execution of the director and screenwriter Michael Shanks It’s too shy for a body horror movie that had everything to bet on the intimacy of the protagonist couple – married in real life. Although Brie and Frank have already played together before, it is curious to see this relationship transposed to a Body horrorsubgenre that could enhance its connections, but here is short of the expected.

The big problem of Togetherwhich arrives in Brazilian theaters from this Thursday, August 14, is precisely not to bet on what the subgenre most stands out: the exposure of the body as a source of discomfort and fear.

In the movie, this exhibition is scarce and little explored, and the few scenes where the bodies of the characters undergo intense physical transformations – not so intense – are mostly concentrated in the trailer, which diminishes their impact on the viewer’s experience. This shyness in showing the body in its most vulnerable and disturbing state makes the film fail to cause the discomfort that the genre requires.

Also, when Together Finally invests in these more explicit effects, they cannot generate the necessary discomfort. This contrasts strongly with recent productions such as The substancefrom CORALIE FARGEATwho knows exactly what and how to show to cause discomfort in the viewer. Stemity in bodies exposure compromises immersion and expected impact, making experience less visceral and memorable than it could be.

David Cronenbergconsecrated master of Body horror with iconic works such as Videodrome: Video syndrome (1983), The fly (1986) and Crimes of the Future (2022), has always been able to shock the intensity of the physicality shown on the screen, while exploiting deep and current themes for each tape: the invasion of technology in the body and mind in Videofragility and physical deterioration in the face of scientific advances in The flyand the constant body transformation linked to suffering, pleasure and evolution in Crimes of the Future.

Also read:Dave Franco, from TogetherWill you play Luigi Mangione in theaters? He responds

What was the best movie of 2025 so far? Vote for your favorite!

• Anora
• Conclave
• Flower
• The brutalist
• Mickey 17
• Victory
• Sinners
• Thunderbolts*
• Man with h
• Karate Kid: Legends
• Premonition 6: Blood Ties
• Mission: Impossible – The Final Set
• How to train your dragon
• F1: The Movie
• Superman
• Fantastic Four: First Steps
• Materialistic loves
• The best mother in the world
• A nicer Friday
• The Time of Evil