We present a dare for long-term couples who appreciate the horror genre: Get comfortable with your significant other and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere via Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like standard biological terror, but within Together lies a deep contemplation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for over ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, the actors contribute a particular energy to their roles, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The story begins when Tim and Millie move from the urban environment to the rural area for her career. A commonly used plot device, of course, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the two discover an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a strange force begins influencing the couple. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying of scares, interspersing bits of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and far away from his network of friends. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is intensified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie refrains from painting either of his characters the obvious villain.
The couple face the sort of issues that arise in any relationship a decade in. Deep down, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor avoids being hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could function as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion plant anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply look at your partner and state, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu now.
