Here's a dare for long-term couples who are fans of the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and view Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like standard body horror, but beneath Together lies a intense meditation about our choices in loving each other.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, partners that have remained a couple for a decade. Having wed in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a unique chemistry to their roles, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The plot starts when the couple relocate from the big city to the country for Millie’s job. A familiar story element, sure, but that’s largely where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an underground cave. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity takes hold of the pair. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The whole movie is a slow burn of scares, interspersing bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) body horror, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and far away from his network of friends. He dreads the concept of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that come with long-term unions over a long period. At their core, they still love each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these concerns of excessive reliance and fully committing to another person, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for staying single. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response 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 identify in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your other half and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform now.
