Consider this a challenge for partners in committed relationships who enjoy the horror genre: Settle in with your partner and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its streaming debut via Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like standard body horror, but beneath Together exists a intense contemplation about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, partners that have stayed together for a decade. Married in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their characters, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A familiar narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the tropes end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim fall into an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence takes hold of the duo. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a slow burn of scares, blending bits of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and delivers them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is only the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his support system. He is terrified of the concept of totally forfeiting his individual identity in Millie. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie never makes Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
The couple confront the type of challenges that are inherent in long-term unions over a long period. Fundamentally, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory avoids being hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu at present.
