Here's a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate the horror genre: Settle in with your significant other and view Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its streaming debut on Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like typical body horror, but within Together resides a profound meditation about how we choose to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for a decade. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the two stars contribute a special spark to their roles, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The narrative starts when Tim and Millie move from the big city to the rural area for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the tropes end. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the two tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force begins influencing the duo. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). The director weaves these elements together expertly and presents them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and far away from his network of friends. He fears the idea of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together avoids making Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that arise in long-term unions a decade in. At their core, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to another person, the allegory never feels hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that single viewers have understood the narrative as a strong argument for staying single. Conversely, some couples who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your significant other and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can undertake today.
Together is streaming on Hulu at present.
