Consider this a dare for long-term couples who appreciate the horror genre: Get comfortable with your partner and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit recently had its streaming debut on the Hulu service. On the surface, it could look like typical body horror, but within Together resides a deep meditation about our choices in loving one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. Having wed in real life in 2017, the actors infuse a special spark to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story starts when Millie and Tim relocate from the metropolis to the rural area for her career. A familiar narrative setup, of course, but that’s mostly where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists tumble into an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence begins influencing the couple. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The complete narrative is a slow burn of scares, blending elements of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). The director skillfully blends these components expertly and wraps them up in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is only the two lead actors, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He fears the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he never makes Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the type of challenges that are inherent in long-term unions over a long period. Deep down, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism never feels clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending inspire anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your other half and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu as of this moment.
