We present a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate horror films: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. On the surface, it could look like typical body horror, but beneath Together exists a profound examination about how we choose to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have been together for over ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a particular energy to their characters, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The narrative commences when Tim and Millie transition from the urban environment to the rural area for professional reasons. A familiar narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists fall into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a strange force starts to affect the couple. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The complete narrative is a methodically building horror experience, blending bits of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes amidst something disturbing). The director skillfully blends these components seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and far away from his support system. He dreads the notion of completely losing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is amplified by the fact he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie never makes one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple confront the kind of problems that come with most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these fears of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism never feels overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a strong argument for staying single. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could function as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the finale plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply turn to your other half and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform now.