Here's a dare for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy the horror genre: Settle in with your loved one and view Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like conventional body horror, but beneath Together resides a intense contemplation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for over ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their roles, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the rural area for her career. A commonly used story element, sure, but that’s largely where the cliches cease. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states 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 protagonists fall into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity starts to affect the couple. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in elements of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes during something horrific). The director orchestrates these parts expertly and wraps them up in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is suffering due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his individual identity in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision is that he never makes one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Both characters face the kind of problems that arise in any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these fears of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor never feels overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Conversely, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion sow anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your significant other and utter, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can embark on today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform as of this moment.