Here's a dare for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like typical body horror, but within Together resides a profound meditation about our choices in loving each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have stayed together for ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a special spark to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story starts when the couple move from the urban environment to the countryside for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s primarily where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the two discover an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the duo. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The whole movie is a slow burn fright fest, interspersing elements of fever-dream horrors, gross (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and presents them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He dreads the concept of completely losing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple grapple with the type of challenges that are inherent in any relationship over a long period. Deep down, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of codependency and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the metaphor avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples 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 function as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the finale inspire anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters 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 right now.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu now.