We present a challenge for long-term couples who are fans of the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere via Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like typical biological terror, but beneath Together resides a profound examination about how we choose to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for over ten years. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The plot commences when Millie and Tim transition from the big city to the country for her career. A familiar story element, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim tumble into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence starts to affect the duo. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn horror experience, blending moments of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). The director orchestrates these parts seamlessly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He dreads the idea of completely losing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he can’t drive and needs Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together avoids making one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie face the sort of issues that come with any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they still love one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to another person, the symbolism avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a powerful case for staying single. On the other hand, some couples having disagreements found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could act as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the ending sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your other half and state, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can embark on today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
