Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate horror films: Sit down with your loved one and view Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. On the surface, it may seem like conventional body horror, but within Together exists a deep contemplation about the ways we decide to love one another.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The story starts when Millie and Tim move from the big city to the countryside for her career. A familiar story element, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the protagonists tumble into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the duo. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The entire film is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes amidst something horrific). The director weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He fears the concept of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision is that he never makes either of his characters the obvious villain.
Both characters face the sort of issues that arise in most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these concerns of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to another person, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu as of this moment.
