We present a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate the horror genre: Get comfortable with your loved one and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like conventional body horror, but within Together lies a profound contemplation about our choices in loving each other.
An Introductory Film Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for over ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the actors bring a particular energy to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The narrative begins when the couple relocate from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A familiar narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the tropes end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the duo. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building of scares, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and presents them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He fears the concept of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he avoids making Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
The couple face the sort of issues that come with long-term unions after ten years. At their core, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these concerns of codependency and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the finale inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply turn to your partner and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform at present.
