We present a test for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Sit down with your significant other and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit recently had its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard body horror, but beneath Together lies a profound examination about how we choose to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their roles, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The plot begins when the couple relocate from the urban environment to the country for her career. A familiar plot device, admittedly, but that’s largely where the tropes cease. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists fall into an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence takes hold of the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past simple connection.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying horror experience, interspersing elements of dreamlike terrors, gross (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). The director weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance 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 reason they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He dreads the idea of completely losing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he avoids making Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that arise in long-term unions after ten years. At their core, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and fully committing to a partner, the allegory does not come across as hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that single viewers have understood the narrative as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could act as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and state, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can undertake right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu now.
