We present a dare for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of the horror genre: Get comfortable with your significant other and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere on Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like standard biological terror, but inside Together lies a profound meditation about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together is the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the actors infuse a special spark to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot starts when Tim and Millie relocate from the metropolis to the rural area for professional reasons. A familiar plot device, of course, but that’s primarily where the conventions end. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the two discover an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence takes hold of the pair. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and presents them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and distant from his support system. He fears the notion of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in Together refrains from painting one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Both characters confront the kind of problems that arise in any relationship a decade in. At their core, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights serve the other symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that single viewers have seen the movie as a strong argument for staying single. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the finale plant anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your other half and state, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can undertake today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
