Here's a test for partners in committed relationships who enjoy horror films: Settle in with your significant other and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like typical body horror, but beneath Together lies a profound examination about our choices in loving one another.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for a decade. Married in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their roles, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The story begins when Millie and Tim relocate from the big city to the rural area for Millie’s job. A familiar story element, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the tropes end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim discover an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity begins influencing the pair. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying fright fest, blending elements of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and presents them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that arise in most partnerships a decade in. Deep down, they continue to care for each other. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism avoids being overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could act as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply look at your other half and state, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
