Here's a test for long-term couples who appreciate the horror genre: Sit down with your loved one and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere via Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like typical biological terror, but beneath Together lies a profound contemplation about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together marks 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 stayed together for over ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their characters, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The plot starts when Tim and Millie transition from the urban environment to the countryside for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, sure, but that’s largely where the tropes end. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the two tumble into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a strange force takes hold of the couple. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The complete narrative is a methodically building of scares, interspersing bits of dreamlike terrors, gross (but never too gross) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). The director weaves these elements together neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together avoids making either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that arise in most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they continue to care for each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these concerns of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the finale plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your partner and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform now.
