We present a dare for partners in committed relationships who enjoy scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like typical body horror, but beneath Together resides a deep examination about our choices in loving our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their characters, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The narrative begins when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the country for her career. A commonly used story element, sure, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence starts to affect the couple. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The entire film is a slow burn of scares, blending moments of fever-dream horrors, gross (but never too gross) physical transformations, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and presents them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and removed 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 is dependent on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie refrains from painting either of his characters the obvious villain.
Both characters confront the kind of problems that arise in most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they have affection for one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the finale plant anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your significant other and say, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can embark on right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform at present.
