Consider this a dare for long-term couples who appreciate the horror genre: Settle in with your significant other and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. On the surface, it could look like typical body horror, but inside Together exists a profound examination about our choices in loving one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a unique chemistry to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story starts when the couple move from the urban environment to the countryside for professional reasons. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s primarily where the cliches conclude. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying of scares, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but never too gross) body horror, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is waning due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and far away from his network of friends. He is terrified of the concept of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in another person. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together avoids making Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie confront the kind of problems that are inherent in most partnerships a decade in. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these fears of codependency and fully committing to another person, the allegory never feels overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could function as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale plant anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your significant other and say, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu at present.
