We present a dare for long-term couples who are fans of the horror genre: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere via Hulu. On the surface, it may seem like typical body horror, but beneath Together lies a deep contemplation about our choices in loving one another.
An Introductory Film Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars contribute a unique chemistry to their roles, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The narrative begins when the couple relocate from the big city to the country for her career. A familiar narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim discover an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a strange force takes hold of the duo. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying horror experience, blending moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his social circle. He dreads the concept of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he can’t drive and needs Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in Together never makes either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters confront the kind of problems that come with long-term unions after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these anxieties of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could act as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the ending sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can undertake today.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
