Here's a dare for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Sit down with your loved one and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere on the Hulu service. At first glance, it might appear like typical body horror, but beneath Together resides a deep contemplation about our choices in loving one another.
A Debut Feature Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together marks the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The narrative commences when Tim and Millie relocate from the metropolis to the countryside for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two tumble into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a strange force takes hold of the duo. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building of scares, blending moments of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). The director orchestrates these parts neatly and presents them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and removed from his network of friends. He is terrified of the idea of totally forfeiting his sense of self in Millie. This fear is intensified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie never makes either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple face the type of challenges that come with long-term unions over a long period. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these fears of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism never feels hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama serve the other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have understood the narrative as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, 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 other half and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu now.
