Here's a test for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and view Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its online premiere via Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like typical body horror, but within Together exists a profound examination about the ways we decide to love each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for ten years. Married in reality in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their characters, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The story commences when Tim and Millie transition from the big city to the countryside for her career. A commonly used plot device, sure, but that’s primarily where the conventions end. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their country house, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim tumble into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity begins influencing the pair. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a slow burn of scares, weaving in bits of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). The director orchestrates these parts expertly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and distant from his network of friends. He is terrified of the concept of completely losing his individual identity in another person. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie refrains from painting Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
The couple grapple with the type of challenges that arise in most partnerships a decade in. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these fears of excessive reliance and fully committing to another person, the symbolism never feels overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for staying single. Meanwhile, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the ending sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply look at your significant other and say, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
