We present a dare for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. On the surface, it could look like standard physical horror, but within Together lies a profound meditation about how we choose to love one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have been together for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a particular energy to their characters, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story starts when Millie and Tim relocate from the big city to the country for Millie’s job. 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 couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their new home, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim tumble into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the pair. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a slow burn of scares, weaving in moments of dreamlike terrors, gross (but never too gross) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and delivers them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie refrains from painting Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie grapple with the sort of issues that arise in most partnerships over a long period. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of excessive reliance and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama work together in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could function as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your partner and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can embark on today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu at present.
