Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who enjoy scary movies: Settle in with your loved one and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like typical body horror, but within Together resides a intense examination about our choices in loving one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple 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, the two stars infuse a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot starts when the couple move from the urban environment to the country for her career. A familiar plot device, sure, but that’s largely where the cliches conclude. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their new home, a storm hits, and the protagonists fall into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a strange force takes hold of the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The complete narrative is a methodically building horror experience, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but never too gross) physical transformations, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and far away from his network of friends. He fears the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie never makes Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that are inherent in most partnerships a decade in. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory does not come across as clumsy or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your other half and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform now.
