Here's a dare for long-term couples who appreciate the horror genre: Settle in with your partner and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. On the surface, it might appear like conventional body horror, but within Together resides a deep contemplation about how we choose to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together represents the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a unique chemistry to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The story commences when the couple relocate from the metropolis to the countryside for her career. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, of course, but that’s primarily 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 Paranormal Spark
While walking near their country house, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim discover an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the pair. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The entire film is a slow burn fright fest, interspersing elements of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He fears the idea of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he can’t drive and needs Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that arise in long-term unions over a long period. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. On the other hand, some couples experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could act as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply turn to your other half and state, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can experience today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu now.
