Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy horror films: Get comfortable with your significant other and view Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. On the surface, it might appear like typical body horror, but inside Together lies a profound contemplation about how we choose to love each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have been together for a decade. Having wed in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their roles, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The narrative begins when the couple transition from the big city to the countryside for her career. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, sure, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim tumble into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence begins influencing the couple. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn of scares, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something horrific). Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and removed from his support system. He is terrified of the notion of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple face the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships a decade in. Deep down, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Conversely, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could function as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the finale sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply look at your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can undertake right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
