Here's a dare for long-term couples who are fans of horror films: Get comfortable with your loved one and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like typical biological terror, but inside Together exists a profound contemplation about the ways we decide to love one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, the two stars contribute a unique chemistry to their characters, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The story commences when the couple move from the metropolis to the country for Millie’s job. A familiar plot device, sure, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. 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 new home, a tempest descends, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence begins influencing the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The entire film is a methodically building fright fest, blending bits of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and delivers them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and distant from his social circle. He fears the notion of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making one partner or the other the obvious villain.
The couple face the kind of problems that come with long-term unions a decade in. At their core, they still love one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor does not come across as hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could act as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale sow anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply look at your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can embark on right now.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu at present.
