Here's a test for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate horror films: Sit down with your significant other and stream Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like conventional physical horror, but within Together exists a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the two stars bring a special spark to their roles, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The story commences when the couple transition from the metropolis to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the conventions conclude. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence takes hold of the pair. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying fright fest, blending bits of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and wraps them up in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and removed from his social circle. He dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is intensified by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in Together avoids making one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple face the type of challenges that come with long-term unions a decade in. At their core, they have affection for one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these fears of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory does not come across as hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could function as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? 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, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu at present.
