Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy horror films: Sit down with your significant other and view Together. This independent film success of 2025 recently had its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard physical horror, but within Together resides a profound meditation about our choices in loving each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a unique chemistry to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The story starts when Tim and Millie transition from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s primarily where the tropes end. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim tumble into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity starts to affect the couple. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building horror experience, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, gross (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). The director weaves these elements together seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and distant from his social circle. He dreads the concept of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is intensified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in Together never makes Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
The couple confront the kind of problems that are inherent in long-term unions a decade in. At their core, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of excessive reliance and fully committing to another person, the allegory never feels overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have understood the narrative as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could act as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your other half and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform at present.
