Review: ‘Together’ Showed Me That Codependency Can Indeed Be… Romantic?

      From Too Much and Materialists to The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3, 2025 has kept us entertained with a delightful array of romantic offerings. In the midst of this influx of charming protagonists and love-triangle drama, I never anticipated that one of the most meaningful love stories I would encounter this year would emerge from the horror genre, but Together changed that perspective.

      Now, before the anti-horror movie enthusiasts scroll past—just hang on for a moment. When I first watched the trailer for Alison Brie and Dave Franco’s new body horror film, Together, I’ll admit—I felt some trepidation. Having spent too many sleepless nights due to films like Insidious and Sinister in my childhood, I wasn't sure if I could handle it. However, when I finally decided to enter the theater this past weekend, it wasn't the gore or jump scares (though both were skillfully done) that made me grateful for my ticket purchase. Instead, it was the film's ability to unpack relationship dilemmas I had never been able to express.

      Having been with my partner for nearly ten years, I was indeed curious—perhaps even eager—to see what insights this story would provide about something I grappling with more frequently than I care to admit: codependency. Together turned out to be not only a beautifully crafted film—palatable even for the most delicate of viewers—but I left the theater with insights on the interplay between intimacy and identity that I believe will stay with me.

      What is Together about?

      Featuring real-life married couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco, the plot centers on Millie (Brie), a meticulous, Type-A teacher who takes a new job in the countryside, and her partner Tim (Franco), an aspiring musician who has put his career on hold to support Millie’s professional journey and their life together. Between these two individuals lurks an unspoken tension about their desires for themselves and for each other. Once Millie and Tim officially relocate to their new home in the countryside, all their anxieties swiftly unfold into a body-altering nightmare that challenges their love as well as their identities.

      My review of Together

      It’s a horror film that's also a comedy and a romance

      Together’s creep-inducing thrill masterfully balances something profoundly human with elements that are, well, horrifyingly surreal. It delves far beyond the happy endings typical of your favorite romantic comedies to face the difficult truths that accompany long-term relationships. Indeed, it’s filled with stunning, haunting visuals that contribute to its effectiveness as a horror film—but at times, it strangely feels more romantic than terrifying. The film features subtle humor and a depth of emotional maturity that left me feeling more enlightened than scared when I exited the theater (aside from the unsettling sound design, of course). It’s my favorite type of cinematic experience—the one that lingers long after the credits roll and stubbornly remains with you, no matter how hard you try to shake it off.

      It revealed the truly frightening aspects of love

      Like any noteworthy horror film, Together keeps you on the edge of your seat. Each frame is brimming with anxiety, making you apprehensive about what horrifying “thing” might suddenly emerge. However, for Millie and Tim, that ominous “thing” isn't always a monster that’s easy to identify. Instead, it embodies something anyone in a long-term relationship can recognize all too well: codependency.

      “It’s uncommon to find a film that can uncover something so profoundly human amidst the undeniable horror, but Together achieves this effortlessly.”

      Struggling to maintain your individuality while cultivating a life with someone can be one of the most challenging aspects of love. But Together isn’t shy about tackling this theme. For Millie and Tim, intimacy reaches a level where it literally fights to bind them in every conceivable way. Living independently, without relying on one another, seems unattainable for them. The film illuminated for me that, in reality, it kind of is.

      You can maintain your sense of self in a relationship, but that self will invariably be influenced by your partner, whether you resist it or not. Clinging to your pre-relationship identity can morph into its own monstrous challenge. One that quietly erodes both your independence and your connection until you barely recognize yourself. What left me most unsettled about Together wasn’t the grotesque bodily transformations, but the more subdued confrontations that arose throughout the film. It’s rare to find a movie that can excavate something so fundamentally human while presenting something so distinctly horrific, but Together does it masterfully.

      It prompted reflection on my own experience with codependency

      Having been with my partner since high school, we’ve shared many unique and meaningful experiences together—from graduations and job changes to exploring new places and grieving important losses. In these shared moments, it can be challenging to pinpoint where I end and we begin. However, what I truly appreciate about Together is its thoughtful engagement with these difficult truths—truths I