Consider this a challenge for long-term couples who are fans of horror films: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it could look like typical body horror, but within Together exists a profound contemplation about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for a decade. Having wed in reality in 2017, the actors bring a particular energy to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim relocate from the big city to the countryside for professional reasons. A familiar story element, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the tropes cease. 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 walking near their country house, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim fall into an underground cave. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity begins influencing the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building fright fest, blending elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). The director weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his social circle. He dreads the idea of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is amplified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in Together avoids making one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
The couple face the kind of problems that come with most partnerships a decade in. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these anxieties of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism avoids being hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply look at your significant other and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu now.
