We present a dare for long-term couples who are fans of horror films: Sit down with your significant other 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 conventional physical horror, but inside Together lies a intense meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have been together for ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a unique chemistry to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The story starts when Tim and Millie transition from the urban environment to the countryside for her career. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the cliches end. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a slow burn fright fest, interspersing bits of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and presents them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and distant from his support system. He dreads the idea of completely losing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is intensified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Both characters face the type of challenges that come with any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these fears of excessive reliance and fully committing to another person, the metaphor never feels clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could function as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending sow anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your partner and state, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can undertake today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform now.
