Consider this a test for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy the horror genre: Get comfortable with your significant other and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 recently had its streaming debut on Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like typical body horror, but within Together exists a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. Having wed in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a unique chemistry to their characters, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The plot starts when the couple transition from the big city to the country for her career. A familiar story element, of course, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together evolves into 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 rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a strange force takes hold of the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying of scares, interspersing bits of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). The director weaves these elements together neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is only the two lead actors, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and distant from his network of friends. He dreads the idea of completely losing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is amplified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Both characters grapple with the kind of problems that are inherent in long-term unions a decade in. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to another person, the metaphor never feels hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama serve the other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for staying single. Conversely, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could function as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion sow anxiety and horror, 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 partner and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can undertake right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu now.
