Here's a dare for long-term couples who enjoy the horror genre: Get comfortable with your loved one and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. At first glance, it might appear like typical physical horror, but beneath Together exists a deep examination about our choices in loving each other.
An Introductory Film Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners 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 committed partnership.
The narrative begins when Millie and Tim move from the metropolis to the rural area for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the cliches cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two fall into an underground cave. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence begins influencing the pair. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying fright fest, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and delivers them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He is terrified of the concept of completely losing his individual identity in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he can’t drive and needs Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie never makes Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie confront the kind of problems that come with any relationship after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these concerns of codependency and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a powerful case for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale sow anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your partner and utter, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can undertake right now.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu at present.
