Here's a challenge for long-term couples who are fans of the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its online premiere on Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like standard body horror, but within Together lies a deep examination about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for a decade. Married in reality in 2017, the actors contribute a unique chemistry to their characters, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The plot commences when the couple relocate from the metropolis to the countryside for her career. A commonly used plot device, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the conventions conclude. 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 trekking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a strange force takes hold of the duo. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying fright fest, weaving in moments of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and wraps them up in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and far away from his network of friends. He is terrified of the notion of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie avoids making Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie confront the type of challenges that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they continue to care for one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these fears of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory does not come across as clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners having disagreements found that the film actually helped them make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could function as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion plant anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your other half and utter, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can embark on today.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu now.
