Consider this a challenge for partners in committed relationships who are fans of horror films: Sit down with your loved one and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it may seem like standard biological terror, but within Together exists a intense meditation about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for ten years. Married in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a unique chemistry to their characters, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The plot commences when Tim and Millie relocate from the big city to the country for her career. A familiar plot device, admittedly, but that’s largely where the tropes end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their new home, a storm hits, and the protagonists fall into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn fright fest, weaving in moments of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his social circle. He dreads the concept of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in another person. This fear is amplified by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie never makes one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple grapple with the kind of problems that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these concerns of codependency and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor avoids being overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply look at your other half and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
