We present a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Get comfortable with your loved one and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. On the surface, it may seem like standard body horror, but within Together exists a intense contemplation about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for over ten years. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative starts when Tim and Millie transition from the metropolis to the country for Millie’s job. A familiar plot device, of course, but that’s largely where the cliches end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their new home, a storm hits, and the two discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity starts to affect the couple. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a slow burn of scares, blending moments of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and delivers them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and distant from his support system. He fears the idea of completely losing 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.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple face the type of challenges that come with most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they continue to care for each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a compelling reason for staying single. Conversely, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could act as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the finale sow anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
