Consider this a test for long-term couples who enjoy the horror genre: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its streaming debut via Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like standard body horror, but inside Together lies a deep contemplation about how we choose to love each other.
A Debut Feature Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the two stars contribute a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when the couple move from the urban environment to the rural area for professional reasons. A familiar plot device, sure, but that’s primarily where the conventions cease. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the two tumble into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence begins influencing the couple. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The whole movie is a slow burn of scares, interspersing elements of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes amidst something horrific). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and delivers them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and distant from his support system. He dreads the idea of completely losing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is intensified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that come with any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the allegory avoids being hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal work together symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the finale plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply turn to your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu now.
