Here's a test for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate the horror genre: Settle in with your loved one and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut on Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but beneath Together resides a profound contemplation about our choices in loving one another.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars infuse a special spark to their roles, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The narrative commences when the couple relocate from the big city to the country for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the conventions end. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists discover 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 far beyond simple connection.
The whole movie is a methodically building fright fest, interspersing moments of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). The director weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his support system. He is terrified of the notion of totally forfeiting his sense of self in another person. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he can’t drive and needs Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie face the sort of issues that come with any relationship after ten years. At their core, they have affection for one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the symbolism never feels overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that single viewers have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply turn to your significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can undertake today.
Together is streaming on Hulu at present.
