Here's a test for partners in committed relationships who appreciate the horror genre: Get comfortable with your loved one and view Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its streaming debut via Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like standard physical horror, but within Together resides a deep contemplation about the ways we decide to love one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, the two stars infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The story commences when the couple relocate from the urban environment to the rural area for her career. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the protagonists fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a strange force begins influencing the duo. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The complete narrative is a slow burn horror experience, blending moments of dreamlike terrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and presents them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He is terrified of the idea of completely losing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is amplified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he avoids making either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Both characters face the kind of problems that come with long-term unions over a long period. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these fears of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama work together symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a powerful case for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the finale sow anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply look at your significant other and state, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can undertake right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu now.
