Here's a dare for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy the horror genre: Settle in with your partner and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like standard biological terror, but inside Together exists a profound contemplation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Debut Feature Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks 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, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars contribute a special spark to their roles, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot commences when the couple transition from the metropolis to the country for her career. A familiar story element, sure, but that’s mostly where the tropes conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the couple. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The whole movie is a slow burn fright fest, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, gross (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his social circle. He is terrified of the notion of completely losing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together avoids making Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
The couple grapple with the kind of problems that arise in any relationship a decade in. At their core, they have affection for one another. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that single viewers have interpreted the film as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, some couples who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the finale sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply look at your partner and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu as of this moment.
