Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate the horror genre: Get comfortable with your significant other and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it might appear like typical biological terror, but beneath Together lies a intense meditation about how we choose to love one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a special spark to their characters, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story starts when Tim and Millie move from the metropolis to the country for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence starts to affect the couple. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, blending bits of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes amidst something disturbing). The director orchestrates these parts neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is only the two lead actors, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his network of friends. He fears the idea of completely losing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is intensified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together avoids making one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
The couple face the type of challenges that come with most partnerships a decade in. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of codependency and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism never feels hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can experience right now.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
