Consider this a test for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your significant other and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut on Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like standard body horror, but beneath Together resides a intense examination about our choices in loving our partners.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for over ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The plot commences when the couple relocate from the metropolis to the countryside for professional reasons. A familiar narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their country house, a storm hits, and the two tumble into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence starts to affect the duo. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying of scares, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and delivers them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and removed from his support system. He dreads the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Both characters face the type of challenges that come with any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply turn to your significant other and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
