Consider this a test for long-term couples who enjoy horror films: Settle in with your loved one and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it could look like typical biological terror, but inside Together resides a deep examination about our choices in loving our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the actors contribute a unique chemistry to their roles, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot starts when Millie and Tim transition from the big city to the rural area for professional reasons. A familiar narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their country house, a storm hits, and the two discover an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past simple connection.
The complete narrative is a methodically building horror experience, weaving in moments of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and wraps them up in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in another person. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie refrains from painting one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Both characters grapple with the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory never feels hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights serve the other symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion sow anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply look at your partner and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
