Consider this a challenge for partners in committed relationships who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your loved one and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. On the surface, it might appear like typical physical horror, but within Together exists a deep meditation about how we choose to love one another.
A Debut Feature Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their roles, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot starts when Tim and Millie move from the big city to the rural area for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, of course, but that’s mostly where the tropes end. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the protagonists tumble into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a strange force starts to affect the pair. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building horror experience, weaving in moments of dreamlike terrors, gross (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and distant from his support system. He dreads the idea of totally forfeiting his individual identity in his partner. This fear is intensified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the definite antagonist.
The couple confront the type of challenges that are inherent in any relationship after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these fears of codependency and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as clumsy or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a powerful case for remaining unattached. On the other hand, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could act as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your partner and utter, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform at present.
