Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate horror films: Get comfortable with your significant other and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it may seem like conventional biological terror, but beneath Together exists a deep examination about how we choose to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for a decade. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the actors infuse a special spark to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The narrative commences when the couple relocate from the big city to the country for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, sure, but that’s primarily where the cliches conclude. 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 tempest descends, and the protagonists fall into an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a strange force takes hold of the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing elements of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something horrific). Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and presents them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and distant from his network of friends. He is terrified of the notion of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he can’t drive and needs Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in Together avoids making either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Both characters face the sort of issues that arise in most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these anxieties of codependency and fully committing to a partner, the allegory avoids being overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion inspire anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply turn to your significant other and state, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
