We present a test for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate the horror genre: Get comfortable with your partner and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like typical body horror, but inside Together resides a intense meditation about our choices in loving one another.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a unique chemistry to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot commences when the couple move from the metropolis to the countryside for professional reasons. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s largely where the tropes conclude. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the two discover an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity takes hold of the couple. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing moments of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes during something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and distant from his social circle. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is intensified by the fact he can’t drive and relies on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he never makes either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie confront the kind of problems that arise in most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory never feels overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama work together symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for staying single. Conversely, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending plant anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your significant other and say, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can embark on right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform now.
