We present a test for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy horror films: Sit down with your significant other and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard physical horror, but beneath Together exists a deep contemplation about how we choose to love each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for over ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars infuse a particular energy to their characters, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The story starts when Tim and Millie relocate from the urban environment to the country for her career. A familiar story element, sure, but that’s mostly where the tropes conclude. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists fall into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the pair. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The complete narrative is a slow burn horror experience, weaving in elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). The director skillfully blends these components expertly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his support system. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is intensified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision is that he never makes one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Both characters face the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they have affection for one another. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could act as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your other half and say, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu as of this moment.
