Director Michael Shanks explains why Together’s s*x scene was essential to the story

Together has been one of the most anticipated projects of 2025 since its premiere at Sundance. It received an overwhelmingly positive reception from critics, who mainly admired its audacious nature.

This supernatural horror film is about a couple dealing with their codependency issues as they move into a new place out in the suburbs. It seems like the perfect place to start a happy married life, until it doesn't. Things take a dark turn, forcing them to confront what they mean to each other. Along the way, they find themselves intrinsically attached as their bodies merge into a seamless unit.

It's such a big creative leap for a first-time feature, but director Michael Shanks seemingly achieves it with the ease of a seasoned filmmaker. He uses these body horror elements in Together's supernatural-themed story to deepen the horrors that the couple feels. While doing so, he also introduces a s*x scene at a crucial point in the couple's life, but it's not there to sensationalize. Instead, it serves a purpose in the story.

Shanks, who wrote the script, reveals that the s*x scene isn't there for a trivial reason or to get a cheap reaction. Instead, it makes you uncomfortable, offering a lived-in experience of their intimacy that reaches an extreme. So, it is as tense and cringe-inducing as it might have been for the on-screen characters.

Michael Shanks talks about the remarkable s*x scene in his supernatural horror film, Together

Michael Shanks' Together stars Alison Brie and Dave Franco, a real-life couple, playing an on-screen couple who find themselves at a crossroads. The script analyzes how their histories dictate their attachment styles, which, in turn, affect their relationship. It is such a vital part of romance that it is rather less explored in the mainstream.

Shanks fine-tunes it to turn their tragic lives into a nightmarish drama that would be hard to get over. To achieve this, he made some stylistic decisions, using practical effects instead of VFX despite the constraints of its tightly bound indie production. He also made sure to honor the truth of their relationship, which means including the bad and the ugly parts of it all. It led him to include a s*x scene in the film.

Los Angeles Premiere Of Neon's "Together" - Arrivals - Source: Getty

In recent years, some filmmakers have consciously stayed away from using similarly intimate scenes in their projects. One of their key reasons has been the rise of adult entertainment avenues, which may dampen the effect of what they want to achieve with such scenes. However, that didn't concern Shanks, according to his conversation with The Hollywood Reporter.

The filmmaker was asked about this scene and how it plays a part in the couple's larger arc in Together. He answered, saying,

"It’s certainly not a scene for titillation. It’s a scene of tension and cringe."

He further explained why the scene made sense in the story he wanted to tell.

"Our film is trying to paint a holistic view of the romantic relationship experience, and its absence would be notable, particularly with a premise like this that is all about the body and physical closeness," he said.

Shanks also cited his partner, Louie, for inspiring him to include it in the film. As an idea, it may seem like someone is going too far with their imagination, but that's also partially the point of this film, which is why the scene serves a purpose in the story.