Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate horror films: Sit down with your loved one and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like standard physical horror, but beneath Together exists a deep contemplation about how we choose to love each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for a decade. Married in actuality in 2017, the two stars contribute a unique chemistry to their roles, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The narrative starts when the couple transition from the big city to the countryside for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical story element, of course, but that’s mostly where the tropes cease. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the two discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence takes hold of the couple. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building of scares, interspersing moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and delivers them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and removed from his social circle. He fears the idea of totally forfeiting his sense of self in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
Both characters grapple with the kind of problems that come with most partnerships over a long period. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these fears of codependency and fully committing to another person, the allegory avoids being overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could function as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your partner and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
