We present a test for partners in committed relationships who appreciate the horror genre: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 recently had its streaming debut on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it could look like conventional physical horror, but within Together lies a intense meditation about how we choose to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their characters, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The story commences when the couple transition from the urban environment to the countryside for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical story element, of course, but that’s mostly where the tropes end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity starts to affect the duo. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a slow burn of scares, interspersing elements of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence 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.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He is terrified of the notion of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in Together avoids making one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that arise in most partnerships over a long period. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory never feels clumsy or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the ending plant anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can undertake today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu as of this moment.
