A U.S. film company has expressed strong disapproval of an apparent alteration made to the body horror movie “Together,” which transformed a gay couple in the original film into a heterosexual pair in the Chinese version.
Comparisons between scenes from the U.S. and Chinese releases of the movie surfaced on Chinese social media after preview screenings earlier this month. The altered image showcased a wedding scene involving a gay couple, with one of the men’s faces edited to resemble that of a woman in the Chinese version.
The plot of the body horror film revolves around Tim and Millie, portrayed by real-life couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie, who relocate to a small town where a supernatural entity attempts to merge their bodies into one physically.
The film was distributed in China by Hishow, a Chinese entertainment company involved in film distribution, production, and financing. According to reports, the film premiered in China on Sept. 12 but was subsequently withdrawn from circulation.
Neon, a global distributor, acquired the film’s worldwide rights at Sundance, distributing it in the U.S. and selling foreign rights to various parties, including Hishow.
A representative from Neon denounced Hishow’s unauthorized modification of the film, demanding the discontinuation of the altered version. Despite attempts to reach out to Hishow and the director of “Together,” Michael Shanks, for comment, no responses were received by publication time.
In the wake of the Chinese screenings, social media users criticized the editing decision, labeling the face swap as inappropriate and a distortion of the original work. The altered portrayal of the couple as heterosexual was seen as diluting an integral part of the storyline.
Chris Berry, a film studies professor at King’s College London specializing in Chinese cinema, noted that China rigorously regulates film content, often dictating edits or outright bans based on perceived compliance with Chinese values. While there are no definitive guidelines, Berry mentioned that depictions of sex or extreme violence are commonly subject to censorship, with scenes usually being removed rather than altered.
Despite changing societal attitudes, recent years have seen crackdowns on LGBTQ+ groups in China, signaling ongoing challenges despite the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1997. Concerns over masculinity and moral debates have led to restrictions, including the suspension of events like ShanghaiPride and legal repercussions for LGBTQ+ advocates.
The controversial edit in “Together” may have been blunt, but Berry suggests it effectively communicates the boundaries of acceptability in China, emphasizing the need for conformity regardless of personal beliefs.