Dave Franco and Alison Brie’s new horror,Together, was actually inspired by one of the bestStar Trekmovies. Directed by Michael Shanks,Togethermarks the latest unsettling entry in thebody-horror genre,following a couple’s move to the countryside to rekindle their fractured relationship, only to find themselves encountering a mysterious force which physically and horrifically changes them.
Togethercurrently holds an 89% Tomatometeron Rotten Tomatoes, with critics and audiences alike praising the Neon film’s creative approach. In fact, even horror authorStephen King has givenTogethera glowing review.Togetherhas also hit a recent milestone, passing $10 million at the box office, a feat only achieved by eight of Neon’s films.
Now, in an interview withSlashFilm,Michael Shanks reveals 1996’sStar Trek: First Contactwas actually a major influence onTogether.Shanks explained that a rewatch made him realize Jonathan Frakes' film was “a body horror movie.” Consequently, Shanks said its concept was “ruminating in [his] head,” and thanked Frakes forTogether’s inspiration. Check out Shanks' statement below:
I was reflecting on one of my favorite movies of all time as a kid — and I should probably stop talking about this, because it’s not very interesting — was Star Trek: First Contact, directed by Jonathan Frakes. I love that movie. I rewatched it recently, and I was like, “Oh, this is a body horror movie.”
Maybe that’s why it’s been ruminating in my head for so long. That’s a film that begins with Captain Picard being injected, a needle into his eyeball and a spider crawls out of his face and they’re grafting human skin onto Data in this erotic way. I’m like, “Why did I watch this so much as a kid?” So yeah, thanks to the Frakes-man for the inspiration.
What The Star Trek Inspiration Means For Together
First Contactis widely regarded as one of thebestStar Trekfilms, showcasing brilliant action, a time-travel plot, and the chilling threat of the Borg. However,few highlight how deeply Jonathan Frakes' movie leans into horror, especially body horror, which makes Shanks' perception quite interesting, especially considering he used it asTogether’s inspiration.
WhileTogetherisn’t a space adventure, it shares a similar sense of creeping dread, physical transformation, and loss of bodily autonomy as seen inFirst Contact. As a result,the subtle sci-fi horror hidden beneath the relationship drama makes Shanks' movie a unique genre blendthat feels fresh, which is whyTogetheris quickly becoming the best horror movie of 2025.
Our Take On Together’s Star Trek Inspiration
It’s genuinely exciting to seeStar Trek’s cinematic legacy influencing a modern horror film likeTogetherin such a creative way. Seeing how a film likeTogether, which is predominantly grounded in emotional realism and psychological horror, can draw from a sci-fi movie likeFirst Contactillustrates just how layered and versatiletheStar Trekfranchisehas always been.
Frakes' direction and disturbing visuals clearly left a lasting impression on Shanks, and the result is a horror film that doesn’t merely rely on jump scares but instead taps into deeper existential fears. Therefore, I think if more films broadened their creative inspirations beyond their set genres, we could see some fascinating films, like Shanks’Together, emerge.
