Here's a test for partners in committed relationships who appreciate the horror genre: Settle in with your loved one and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut via Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like standard biological terror, but beneath Together resides a profound contemplation about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. Having wed in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The narrative commences when the couple transition from the big city to the rural area for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force begins influencing the duo. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past simple connection.
The complete narrative is a slow burn fright fest, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and presents them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and distant from his social circle. He dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is amplified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie confront the kind of problems that come with long-term unions a decade in. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these anxieties of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism never feels overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate 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 staying single. On the other hand, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the finale plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply turn to your other half and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can experience right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu as of this moment.
