Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Get comfortable with your significant other and stream Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it could look like typical biological terror, but inside Together lies a intense meditation about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, partners that have been together for a decade. Having wed in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a special spark to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The story begins when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the rural area for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical story element, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the conventions end. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their country house, a storm hits, and the protagonists tumble into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The entire film is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing bits of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and wraps them up in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and far away from his network of friends. He dreads the idea of completely losing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie refrains from painting Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the kind of problems that are inherent in long-term unions a decade in. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory never feels overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that single viewers have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. On the other hand, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could function as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your partner and say, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu at present.
