We present a dare for long-term couples who appreciate horror films: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like conventional body horror, but inside Together exists a profound examination about how we choose to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the actors contribute a unique chemistry to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when Millie and Tim transition from the big city to the countryside for her career. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, sure, but that’s largely where the conventions conclude. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim tumble into an underground cave. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence starts to affect the couple. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The complete narrative is a slow burn horror experience, interspersing elements of dreamlike terrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and far away from his network of friends. He fears the concept of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple face the type of challenges that arise in most partnerships over a long period. At their core, they still love one another. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a compelling reason for staying single. Meanwhile, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion plant anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your partner and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu at present.
