Here's a test for long-term couples who enjoy the horror genre: Settle in with your loved one and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like typical biological terror, but beneath Together lies a profound contemplation about our choices in loving each other.
An Introductory Film Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the actors contribute a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The story commences when Millie and Tim relocate from the big city to the rural area for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, of course, but that’s mostly where the cliches cease. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim tumble into an underground cave. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity takes hold of the duo. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn fright fest, interspersing bits of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and distant from his social circle. He dreads the idea of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he can’t drive and needs Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie never makes Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Both characters face the type of challenges that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these concerns of excessive reliance and fully committing to a partner, the allegory never feels overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could function as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu at present.
