Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate horror films: Get comfortable with your significant other and view Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. At first glance, it could look like standard body horror, but beneath Together resides a deep contemplation about how we choose to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for over ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a special spark to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The plot begins when Tim and Millie relocate from the metropolis to the rural area for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the tropes cease. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the protagonists fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The whole movie is a methodically building horror experience, weaving in moments of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and removed from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie refrains from painting Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
The couple grapple with the sort of issues that come with any relationship a decade in. Deep down, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as hamfisted or pretentious. 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 Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could act as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your significant other and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience today.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
