Here's a test for long-term couples who are fans of the horror genre: Get comfortable with your partner and watch Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like typical body horror, but within Together lies a deep examination about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have been together for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The narrative begins when the couple transition from the big city to the country for her career. A familiar story element, sure, but that’s largely where the cliches conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the two tumble into an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a strange force takes hold of the duo. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn horror experience, blending moments of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and delivers them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and distant from his network of friends. He fears the notion of completely losing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that arise in long-term unions over a long period. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory does not come across as clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could act as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your significant other and state, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform at present.
