Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Get comfortable with your loved one and view Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like conventional body horror, but beneath Together resides a deep examination about how we choose to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for over ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The plot commences when the couple move from the metropolis to the countryside for her career. A somewhat stereotypical story element, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the tropes cease. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the protagonists fall into an underground cave. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence takes hold of the couple. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building of scares, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and distant from his support system. He dreads the idea of completely losing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in Together never makes Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Both characters confront the type of challenges that come with long-term unions over a long period. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory does not come across as hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could function as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the finale sow anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your significant other and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can embark on today.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.