Here's a test for long-term couples who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and view Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its streaming debut via Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like typical body horror, but within Together exists a deep examination about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their roles, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when Tim and Millie move from the urban environment to the country for Millie’s job. A commonly used plot device, of course, but that’s mostly where the tropes cease. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim discover an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the pair. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying horror experience, interspersing moments of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He is terrified of the concept of totally forfeiting his individual identity in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie avoids making one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Both characters grapple with the type of challenges that arise in long-term unions over a long period. At their core, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor never feels hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. On the other hand, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply look at your partner and say, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu now.
