We present a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate horror films: Get comfortable with your significant other and watch Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like typical body horror, but within Together resides a deep meditation about how we choose to love each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together represents the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for over ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the actors infuse a particular energy to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The story starts when Tim and Millie move from the big city to the rural area for her career. A familiar story element, of course, but that’s primarily where the conventions cease. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim fall into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the pair. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn of scares, interspersing elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and far away from his network of friends. He dreads the idea of completely losing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together avoids making Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that arise in any relationship after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of excessive reliance and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that single viewers have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion inspire anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your partner and state, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu now.
