Here's a challenge for partners in committed relationships who are fans of horror films: Get comfortable with your significant other and view Together. This independent film success of 2025 recently had its streaming debut on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like conventional body horror, but inside Together resides a profound contemplation about how we choose to love one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the actors bring a particular energy to their characters, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The story starts when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the countryside for her career. A familiar plot device, sure, but that’s mostly where the cliches conclude. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a strange force takes hold of the pair. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building of scares, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) body horror, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and delivers them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and distant from his support system. He fears the notion of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in another person. This fear is intensified by the fact he can’t drive and relies on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that come with most partnerships after ten years. At their core, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of codependency and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory avoids being hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have seen the movie as a strong argument for staying single. On the other hand, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion sow anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply turn to your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can experience right now.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu at present.
