We present a dare for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your partner and view Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it could look like standard body horror, but inside Together exists a profound meditation about our choices in loving each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the two stars infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The story begins when the couple transition from the urban environment to the rural area for professional reasons. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the cliches cease. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity begins influencing the couple. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The entire film is a slow burn of scares, weaving in bits of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes during something horrific). The director skillfully blends these components neatly and delivers them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and far away from his network of friends. He is terrified of the notion of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is intensified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
Both characters face the kind of problems that come with any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can undertake right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
