We present a challenge for partners in committed relationships who are fans of horror films: Get comfortable with your significant other and view Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its streaming debut on Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like conventional body horror, but inside Together exists a intense meditation about how we choose to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have remained a couple for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The narrative commences when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the countryside for professional reasons. A commonly used story element, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists fall into an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity begins influencing the duo. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a slow burn fright fest, weaving in elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and delivers them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and removed from his network of friends. He is terrified of the notion of completely losing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
Both characters face the kind of problems that arise in long-term unions over a long period. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that single viewers have seen the movie as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending sow anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your partner and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform at present.
