'Together', powerful horror film on the theme of toxic love

'Together' begins with a typical horror movie sequence, a rainy night scene in the middle of a forest: someone has disappeared, many are looking for him, and in the middle of the forest there is a mysterious opening leading to a creepy underground cave.

Shanks also deliberately plays with many of the genre's stereotypes, but in this strongly classical structure, contemporary reflections are inserted, which are capable of enthralling for the entire duration.

The characters end up in a kind of chasm (which leads them into that cave) and this is also a symbol of the cracks that seem to haunt their relationship and which will heal in very unexpected ways.

The two leads Dave Franco and Alison Brie are also a couple in real life (they got married in 2017) and give life to a real acting tour de force that contributes to the surprising outcome of one of the most profound first works of recent years.

A must-see, even at the cost of a few armchair jolts.

Among the week's new releases is the Italian 'Testa o croce?' by Alessio Rigo De Righi and Matteo Zoppis, presented in the Un certain regard section of this year's Cannes Film Festival.

Set at the beginning of the 20th century, the film tells of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show that lands in Italy, bringing with it the echo of the American myth of the Frontier and a spectacularity never seen before. There is no lack of cowboys, shotguns and shows that mix reality and legend, in an atmosphere suspended between entertainment and propaganda. In the midst of this picturesque circus, an event destined to enter folklore occurs, namely an epic challenge between the cowboys from overseas and the Italian cowboys. It is here that Rosa, the young wife of a wealthy local landowner, meets Santino, the cowboy who with courage and skill triumphs in the competition: an overwhelming love affair is born between the two.

After the good results of 'King Crab', also presented at Cannes in 2021 as part of the Directors' Fortnight, Alessio Rigo De Righi and Matteo Zoppis are back behind the camera for a truly curious project, capable of recounting an impossible elopement in which destiny - hence the film's title - is perhaps the great protagonist.

Mixing westerns and melodrama, "Heads or Tails?" is a kind of melancholic ballad, alternating brilliant ideas with some unfortunately less centred excesses.

The narrative has a few verbose passages, but the good hand of the two directors manages to conceal some of the limitations thanks to incisive direction and a wealth of images - especially those depicting the characters in the midst of nature - of an excellent standard.

The talent of Rigo De Righi and Zoppis is not in question, but 'King Crab' was decidedly more charming and successful. The cast of 'Heads or Tails?' includes Alessandro Borghi, Nadia Tereszkiewicz and John C. Reilly, with the latter playing Buffalo Bill.