We present a test for long-term couples who are fans of horror films: Sit down with your loved one and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it may seem like conventional body horror, but within Together exists a profound contemplation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for over ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the actors infuse a special spark to their roles, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The narrative commences when the couple move from the big city to the countryside for her career. A somewhat stereotypical story element, of course, but that’s largely where the cliches conclude. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their new home, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence starts to affect the duo. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The whole movie is a slow burn fright fest, blending bits of fever-dream horrors, gross (but never too gross) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). The director weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they deftly portray countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and far away from his social circle. He fears the notion of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie never makes one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Both characters face the kind of problems that arise in most partnerships over a long period. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these concerns of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided 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 who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your partner and say, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can embark on today.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
