We present a test for partners in committed relationships who enjoy scary movies: Settle in with your partner and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like standard body horror, but within Together resides a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love one another.
An Introductory Film Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, partners that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The story starts when Millie and Tim transition from the big city to the countryside for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, of course, but that’s primarily where the tropes cease. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their country house, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim tumble into an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force takes hold of the couple. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building fright fest, interspersing bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is waning due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He fears the idea of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in another person. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple face the type of challenges that arise in most partnerships over a long period. At their core, they have affection for one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these fears of codependency and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your significant other and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform at present.
