Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Sit down with your partner and view Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like typical body horror, but inside Together exists a intense contemplation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars contribute a unique chemistry to their characters, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The story commences when the couple move from the metropolis to the country for her career. A familiar narrative setup, sure, but that’s largely where the tropes end. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the two discover an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the pair. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn fright fest, blending bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) body horror, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his network of friends. He dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in another person. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters grapple with the kind of problems that arise in any relationship after ten years. At their core, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these fears of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor does not come across as overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights work together in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion inspire anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your other half and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
