This New Horror Film Can Be Streamed, and It Could Strengthen or Shatter Your Partnership.

Here's a dare for long-term couples who enjoy the horror genre: Settle in with your loved one and view Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. At first glance, it may seem like typical body horror, but inside Together resides a intense examination about the ways we decide to love one another.

An Introductory Film Delving into Relationship Dynamics

Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for a decade. Married in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a special spark to their roles, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.

The narrative begins when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the country for professional reasons. A familiar narrative setup, of course, but that’s primarily where the cliches conclude. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.

A Supernatural Catalyst

While trekking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists fall into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence takes hold of the couple. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.

The whole movie is a slow burn horror experience, interspersing bits of fever-dream horrors, gross (but never too gross) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.

Layered Performances

A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.

Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and distant from his network of friends. He is terrified of the concept of completely losing his individual identity in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for getting around.

Shanks’ smartest move is that he never makes one partner or the other the obvious villain.

Both characters grapple with the type of challenges that arise in most partnerships over a long period. At their core, they have affection for one another. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their future together.

Thematic Depth

While the supernatural forces in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism never feels overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other symbiotically.

A Debated Finale

Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a powerful case for staying single. Meanwhile, some couples 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 great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion plant anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your other half and utter, “I understand that choice”?

Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can embark on at this very moment.

Together is streaming on Hulu's platform now.