Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its streaming debut on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like conventional body horror, but beneath Together resides a profound examination about the ways we decide to love one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The story begins when Millie and Tim relocate from the big city to the country for professional reasons. A familiar story element, admittedly, but that’s largely where the tropes cease. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists tumble into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a strange force begins influencing the couple. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The entire film is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing moments of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes during something grotesque). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and presents them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the concept of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple grapple with the type of challenges that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these fears of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a powerful case for staying single. On the other hand, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
