Here's a dare for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your significant other and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like conventional physical horror, but beneath Together resides a intense examination about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for over ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their characters, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The story starts when Tim and Millie relocate from the metropolis to the countryside for professional reasons. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the tropes cease. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their new home, a storm hits, and the two fall into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the pair. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building of scares, interspersing moments of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and wraps them up in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is only the two lead actors, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and far away from his network of friends. He fears the concept of completely losing his individual identity 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 is that he refrains from painting Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory never feels overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a strong argument for remaining unattached. On the other hand, some couples experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your partner and state, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can embark on today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform at present.
