Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy the horror genre: Get comfortable with your loved one and view Together. This independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like standard biological terror, but within Together resides a deep examination about our choices in loving one another.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have been together for over ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their roles, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative starts when Tim and Millie move from the metropolis to the countryside for her career. A commonly used plot device, of course, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the two tumble into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence takes hold of the duo. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building of scares, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). The director skillfully blends these components seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is only the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and distant from his network of friends. He is terrified of the idea of totally forfeiting his individual identity in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
The couple face the type of challenges that come with most partnerships over a long period. At their core, they have affection for one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these concerns of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the allegory does not come across as clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your partner and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
