Consider this a test for long-term couples who appreciate the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its online premiere on Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like standard body horror, but inside Together lies a deep contemplation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together is the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have been together for ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, the actors bring a unique chemistry to their roles, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The narrative commences when Tim and Millie relocate from the big city to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s primarily where the tropes conclude. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their country house, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the pair. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The whole movie is a slow burn of scares, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes during something disturbing). Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and delivers them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and distant from his network of friends. He dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Both characters grapple with the sort of issues that come with long-term unions over a long period. Fundamentally, they continue to care for one another. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these fears of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory never feels overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your other half and utter, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
