We present a challenge for long-term couples who appreciate the horror genre: Settle in with your significant other and view Together. The 2025 indie hit recently had its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like typical body horror, but inside Together exists a deep examination about how we choose to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for ten years. Married in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when Tim and Millie move from the urban environment to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, of course, but that’s primarily where the cliches conclude. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their new home, a storm hits, and the two discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying fright fest, blending moments of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but never too gross) physical transformations, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and distant from his social circle. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he refrains from painting Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie face the kind of problems that come with most partnerships a decade in. Deep down, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these fears of codependency and fully committing to another person, the metaphor never feels clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu now.
