Alison Brie and Dave Franco explore the depths of horror and romance in their new film ‘Together’, directed by Michael Shanks. This unique project delves into the complexities of their real-life relationship as they face supernatural challenges on screen.
Alison Brie and Dave Franco’s Horror Journey in ‘Together’
In writer/director Michael Shanks‘ “Together,” Alison Brie and Dave Franco portray Millie and Tim, a couple whose relationship is put to the test by a supernatural encounter that leads to terrifying transformations. This film serves as a compelling meditation on codependency, enhanced by the fact that Brie and Franco are married; it plays out like their own version of “Eyes Wide Shut,” offering a haunting exploration of romance under pressure.
Body Horror Influences
The film incorporates strong elements of body horror reminiscent of renowned director David Cronenberg, a favorite of both Brie and Franco. During the pandemic, the couple delved into Cronenberg’s work, with Franco sharing, “During COVID we would choose directors and just go down that path.”
Brie, a lifelong film enthusiast, credits Franco with deepening her appreciation for the horror genre. “I feel like Dave is my film school when it comes to offbeat independent films that I haven’t heard of, and a lot of horror movies,” she remarked. Franco chimed in, “I’d watch a horror movie every night if I could.”
Drawing Inspiration from Cronenberg
While Brie regards “Dead Ringers” as her favorite Cronenberg film, she and Franco envisioned “Together” as a film in the vein of Cronenberg’s 1986 remake of “The Fly.” Franco stated, “‘The Fly’ is one of the best movies ever. I’m not saying we’re anywhere near that, but like that movie, this is body horror with a romance at its core.”
Unique Challenges on Set
Upon reading the script, Brie and Franco were intrigued yet uncertain about how Shanks would execute the complex set pieces. Franco noted, “We were so drawn to it because of how unique and bold it was, but at the same time we were like, ‘How is he going to pull this off?’”
After viewing Shanks’ short film “Rebooted” and learning about his visual effects background, they felt more at ease, albeit still aware of the demanding 21-day shooting schedule. “Every single day there were either heavy prosthetics or crazy action sequences,” Franco recalled. “We were sprinting.”
Improvisation and Physicality
Brie mentioned that the fast-paced shooting schedule paradoxically enhanced their performances, allowing them to operate on instinct. “I’ve never felt more free than I did on this movie,” she expressed. “There was no time to overthink. The script was so fun, and we trusted each other so much that we could truly throw ourselves into every take.”
The short schedule also inspired Brie and Franco to fully embrace the physically demanding aspects of their roles. “We could not have sustained that level for a three-month shoot,” Brie explained, with Franco adding, “We wouldn’t have survived! But because it was such a short schedule, it gave us this mentality of, let’s go for it every day.”
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The Monster Within
Brie described “Together” as a monster movie where the monster resides within the characters themselves, leading to a physically intense shoot. “We’re the kind of actors where that’s our favorite part of it,” she said. “It’s a very ‘put me in, coach’ kind of energy.” Franco added, “We were just so excited with the footage we were getting, which fueled us to push through physical injuries.”
The Benefits of Partnership
Being a married couple made the filming process smoother than it might have been with other partners. Brie noted, “There turned out to be endless benefits, even more so than we realized.” Their shared history provided a solid foundation for portraying a couple in distress.
Franco added, “The fact that we were living together meant we could rehearse as much as we wanted. We could discuss any performance things the night before, which saved a lot of time.”
A Joyful Experience
Despite the challenges, both actors found joy in portraying a dysfunctional couple. “We did go into the whole process thinking, okay, this is a really intense undertaking that is either going to end in divorce, or we’re gonna be more codependent than ever. And luckily, it’s the latter,” Franco concluded.
“Together” opens in theaters on Wednesday, July 30 from Neon.
