Consider this a test for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on the Hulu service. On the surface, it could look like standard body horror, but beneath Together lies a intense examination about our choices in loving our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. Married in reality in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The plot starts when the couple transition from the urban environment to the country for her career. A commonly used plot device, sure, but that’s primarily where the tropes end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their new home, a storm hits, and the protagonists discover an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the couple. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past simple connection.
The entire film is a slow burn horror experience, interspersing elements of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits 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 social circle. He fears the concept of totally forfeiting his individual identity in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie avoids making either of his characters the definite antagonist.
The couple grapple with the type of challenges that arise in most partnerships after ten years. At their core, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these anxieties of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the metaphor never feels overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the ending plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
