Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Get comfortable with your loved one and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut via Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like typical physical horror, but beneath Together exists a deep contemplation about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, partners that have remained a couple for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The narrative begins when the couple relocate from the metropolis to the countryside for her career. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, sure, but that’s primarily where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim fall into an underground cave. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a strange force begins influencing the couple. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn horror experience, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) body horror, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his network of friends. He fears the concept of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple face the kind of problems that arise in long-term unions over a long period. Deep down, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these concerns of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism avoids being overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights serve the other symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act 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 recognize your own traits in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply look at your other half and say, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can undertake today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform at present.
