Alison Brie and Dave Franco spend a lot of time together.
As it happens, they are a married couple in real life and play one in the horror film “Together.” It’s a body horror that literally sticks our two leads together as they adapt to their new life in the countryside. First comes cabin fever, then something far more disturbing and supernatural.
Considering the acting duo’s history, they are subject experts on being attached at the hip — which isn’t just a turn of phrase in the film. They’ve worked together multiple times, including playing a couple in “The Disaster Artist” and “Somebody I Used to Know,” which Franco directed as well as co-wrote with Brie, who also starred.
Brie and Franco talked to The Knockturnal about the demanding physicality and elaborate prosthetic work during shooting, as well as how their offscreen relationship informs the film. Franco, for instance, kept a “bruise journal” to document the effects of all the “flailing” he visited upon his character’s body. Brie said they stayed conjoined by prosthetics even when they had to go to the bathroom — a perk of being married. Beyond that, though, she believes their shared history off-screen gives the audience a better understanding of the onscreen couple.
We also spoke to the director, Michael Shanks. He talked about working within time constraints on his debut feature, the film’s philosophical implications, and the role music plays in the film. He talked about how his music makes its way into the movie and teased a pivotal song which comes in at the end of the movie, which he said ate up a bunch of their budget. No spoilers, you’ll have to watch until the end to find out the tune!
The gross-out horror has been racking up rave reviews — dividing neither its audience nor its characters. “Together” hits the theater July 31.
