We present a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its streaming debut via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard body horror, but inside Together exists a deep contemplation about how we choose to love each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a unique chemistry to their characters, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The narrative starts when the couple transition from the urban environment to the rural area for her career. A commonly used plot device, admittedly, but that’s largely where the tropes end. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity starts to affect the duo. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying of scares, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but never too gross) body horror, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes amidst something horrific). The director weaves these elements together expertly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and distant from his social circle. He is terrified of the notion of totally forfeiting his sense of self in another person. This fear is intensified by the fact he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie confront the kind of problems that arise in most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these fears of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor avoids being hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for staying single. Meanwhile, some couples who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could function as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your other half and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can undertake right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
