We present a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Get comfortable with your partner and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it could look like conventional physical horror, but beneath Together exists a profound examination about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for ten years. Married in reality in 2017, the actors contribute a special spark to their characters, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative begins when Millie and Tim transition from the metropolis to the country for her career. A commonly used story element, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions conclude. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the protagonists tumble into an underground cave. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence starts to affect the couple. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing bits of fever-dream horrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and wraps them up in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and distant from his network of friends. He fears the idea of totally forfeiting his sense of self in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie avoids making one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie face the sort of issues that are inherent in long-term unions over a long period. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory never feels clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for staying single. On the other hand, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could act as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters 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 embark on today.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
