We present a test for partners in committed relationships who are fans of horror films: Get comfortable with your partner and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like conventional biological terror, but beneath Together lies a intense examination about the ways we decide to love one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for over ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, the two stars contribute a unique chemistry to their roles, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The narrative commences when Tim and Millie relocate from the metropolis to the countryside for professional reasons. A familiar narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the conventions conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists fall into an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity takes hold of the couple. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying fright fest, weaving in bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). The director skillfully blends these components neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and removed from his social circle. He fears the idea of utterly sacrificing 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 getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he never makes either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple confront the kind of problems that come with long-term unions a decade in. At their core, they still love each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism avoids being clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for staying single. On the other hand, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the finale plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can undertake today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
