We present a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your loved one and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere on Hulu. On the surface, it may seem like conventional body horror, but beneath Together resides a profound meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for over ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, the actors bring a particular energy to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The narrative commences when Tim and Millie relocate from the urban environment to the country for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an underground cave. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity takes hold of the pair. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a slow burn of scares, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, gross (but never too gross) body horror, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes during something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and removed from his network of friends. He fears the notion of totally forfeiting his sense of self in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie refrains from painting Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the sort of issues that are inherent in long-term unions a decade in. At their core, they still love each other. 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 relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to another person, the metaphor never feels hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion inspire anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your partner and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can embark on right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform now.
