We present a test for long-term couples who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your loved one and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. At first glance, it may seem like typical body horror, but within Together exists a profound examination about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together is the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The plot begins when Tim and Millie transition from the metropolis to the country for her career. A familiar narrative setup, of course, but that’s mostly where the tropes end. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their new home, a storm hits, and the protagonists tumble into an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence takes hold of the duo. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The whole movie is a methodically building of scares, blending bits of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes amidst something disturbing). The director skillfully blends these components expertly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He is terrified of the notion of totally forfeiting his individual identity in his partner. This fear is amplified by the reality he can’t drive and needs Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision is that he never makes one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple face the type of challenges that come with most partnerships after ten years. At their core, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have interpreted the film as a powerful case for staying single. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your partner and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu as of this moment.
