Here's a test for partners in committed relationships who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your partner and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like typical physical horror, but within Together resides a deep contemplation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their roles, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the countryside for professional reasons. A commonly used narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a strange force begins influencing the couple. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The whole movie is a slow burn of scares, blending elements of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and removed from his social circle. He dreads the idea of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie grapple with the sort of issues that come with long-term unions after ten years. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these fears of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending sow anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can undertake today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform at present.
