Here's a challenge for long-term couples who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like typical physical horror, but within Together resides a profound examination about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Debut Feature Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their characters, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The story commences when Tim and Millie move from the metropolis to the country for her career. A familiar narrative setup, sure, but that’s primarily where the cliches conclude. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the protagonists fall into an underground cave. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying of scares, interspersing bits of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and wraps them up in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his floundering music career inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and far away from his social circle. He dreads the idea of completely losing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie avoids making one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
The couple grapple with the type of challenges that come with long-term unions a decade in. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these fears of codependency and fully committing to another person, the symbolism does not come across as clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could function as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply look at your partner and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu as of this moment.
