Consider this a test for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your loved one and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like conventional physical horror, but beneath Together lies a deep contemplation about our choices in loving each other.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together is the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The story begins when Tim and Millie move from the urban environment to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical story element, sure, but that’s primarily where the conventions conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their country house, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim discover an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity takes hold of the duo. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, interspersing elements of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something disturbing). The director skillfully blends these components neatly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is exclusively 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 waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and distant from his social circle. He fears the idea of completely losing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is intensified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Both characters grapple with the kind of problems that come with long-term unions a decade in. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism does not come across as clumsy or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and say, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can undertake today.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu now.
