Consider this a dare for long-term couples who are fans of horror films: Get comfortable with your significant other and view Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere via Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like typical biological terror, but within Together lies a profound examination about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together represents the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have been together for ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a particular energy to their characters, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The story starts when the couple relocate from the metropolis to the countryside for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, of course, but that’s mostly where the tropes end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists fall into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity takes hold of the couple. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn fright fest, weaving in bits of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together seamlessly and presents them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He fears the concept of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is amplified by the reality he can’t drive and relies on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie avoids making either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie grapple with the type of challenges that arise in any relationship over a long period. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these fears of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor never feels clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a powerful case for staying single. On the other hand, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion sow anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
