We present a challenge for partners in committed relationships who enjoy horror films: Get comfortable with your loved one and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard body horror, but within Together resides a intense contemplation about how we choose to love each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for a decade. Married in actuality in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their characters, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical story element, sure, but that’s largely where the cliches conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence begins influencing the duo. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The whole movie is a methodically building horror experience, blending moments of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something grotesque). The director orchestrates these parts neatly and wraps them up in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and removed from his support system. He dreads the concept of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in Together refrains from painting Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
The couple face the kind of problems that come with most partnerships after ten years. At their core, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the metaphor never feels hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have seen the movie as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending plant anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply look at your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform now.
