Consider this a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its online premiere on Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like standard physical horror, but beneath Together lies a deep meditation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their roles, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The narrative starts when Tim and Millie transition from the metropolis to the countryside for her career. A commonly used plot device, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the tropes conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and the protagonists tumble into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity takes hold of the pair. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The whole movie is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in bits of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is only the two lead actors, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his social circle. He dreads the idea of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in another person. This fear is amplified by the fact he can’t drive and relies on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Both characters grapple with the type of challenges that come with any relationship over a long period. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these fears of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism avoids being hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the ending sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your partner and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can experience at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu at present.
