We present a test for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of the horror genre: Settle in with your loved one and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its streaming debut via Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like typical body horror, but inside Together resides a deep contemplation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for over ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the actors bring a unique chemistry to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot starts when the couple transition from the metropolis to the rural area for professional reasons. A familiar story element, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the two discover an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a strange force starts to affect the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The whole movie is a methodically building fright fest, blending bits of fever-dream horrors, gross (but never too gross) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is only the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and distant from his network of friends. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his individual identity in his partner. This fear is amplified by the fact he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie confront the kind of problems that come with most partnerships after ten years. At their core, they still love one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these fears of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor avoids being hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could act as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion plant anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your significant other and state, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu as of this moment.
