Dave Franco Says People Who See ‘Together’ Are Telling Him ‘I’m So Happy I’m Single’
“If they break up, it’s not my fault. I’m Sorry.”
Dave Franco and Alison Brie, a real life couple of 13 years, star in Together as a couple who move to the countryside and encounter a supernatural force that threatens their relationship and their bodies. The production required such intimacy between the actors (because they were physically connected for up to 10 hours a day while shooting) that they even went to the bathroom together (while touching). The movie currently has a 89% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Writer/director Michael Shanks was inspired by his own 16-year relationship with his wife. As he noticed how similar the two were becoming, he wondered whether they were “toxically codependent”. Together explores that question through the vehicle of body horror. In an interview with Variety, Franco explained why this is the perfect way to explore codependency:
With body horror, it’s so terrifying in general because this is your vessel, this is your body that you can’t escape. So when crazy stuff starts happening to you its the scariest thing that could possibly happen.
The funniest moment in the interview occurred when Franco was asked what body part he and Alison would choose to be conjoined by: “Genitals at all times.”
Speaking of early audience reactions, Shanks says that couples have told him the film has helped them work identify their relationship issues. However, he has also been approached by a viewer who told him he saw his own relationship in the movie and that he feared he and his wife weren’t going to make it. Of that couple, Shanks says “I hope it helps them to identify the flaws and if they break up, it’s not my fault. I’m Sorry.”
Franco says he’s also heard from unattached audience members who said “I am so happy I am single” after seeing Together.
Brie lightheartedly added that they are doing a favor to couples who break up after seeing Together by highlighting their issues.
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