Here's a dare for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy horror films: Get comfortable with your partner and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere via Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like conventional body horror, but within Together exists a deep meditation about our choices in loving one another.
A Debut Feature Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have stayed together for a decade. Having wed in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their roles, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative begins when the couple move from the metropolis to the country for professional reasons. A familiar story element, of course, but that’s mostly where the tropes conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the two tumble into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the couple. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a slow burn horror experience, blending bits of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He is terrified of the idea of completely losing his sense of self in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and relies on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making one partner or the other the obvious villain.
The couple face the sort of issues that are inherent in any relationship over a long period. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They share moments of joy, offer support, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these fears of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism avoids being clumsy or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a strong argument for staying single. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could function as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the ending sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply turn to your other half and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform at present.
