We present a dare for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your loved one and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. On the surface, it might appear like typical physical horror, but within Together resides a intense meditation about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a special spark to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot commences when Millie and Tim transition from the metropolis to the countryside for professional reasons. A familiar plot device, of course, but that’s mostly where the cliches cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists fall into an underground cave. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a strange force takes hold of the couple. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying horror experience, weaving in bits of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes amidst something horrific). The director weaves these elements together expertly and delivers them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his network of friends. He fears the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that come with long-term unions a decade in. At their core, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, offer support, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these fears of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as clumsy or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have interpreted the film as a strong argument for staying single. On the other hand, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending sow anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can embark on today.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu at present.
