Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy horror films: Get comfortable with your partner and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like conventional body horror, but beneath Together resides a deep examination about our choices in loving one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for over ten years. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a particular energy to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The story starts when the couple transition from the urban environment to the country for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical story element, sure, but that’s largely where the tropes cease. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their new home, a storm hits, and the protagonists fall into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying of scares, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and presents them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and removed from his support system. He fears the notion of totally forfeiting his sense of self in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision is that he never makes one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the type of challenges that come with any relationship a decade in. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these fears of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the metaphor never feels overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could function as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your significant other and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform at present.