Here's a challenge for long-term couples who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your significant other and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like typical physical horror, but within Together exists a deep meditation about how we choose to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have remained a couple for a decade. Having wed in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their roles, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim transition from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used plot device, sure, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a strange force takes hold of the pair. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The entire film is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but tastefully done) body horror, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). The director weaves these elements together seamlessly and presents them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and removed from his social circle. He dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in another person. This fear is amplified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision in Together avoids making either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Both characters face the type of challenges that are inherent in any relationship a decade in. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these anxieties of codependency and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that single viewers have seen the movie as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. On the other hand, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could act as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion sow anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and state, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can embark on right now.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
