Consider this a test for long-term couples who appreciate the horror genre: Settle in with your significant other and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like conventional biological terror, but within Together lies a intense meditation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for over ten years. Married in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a particular energy to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative starts when Tim and Millie relocate from the urban environment to the rural area for her career. A commonly used story element, of course, but that’s mostly where the tropes cease. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two discover an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity begins influencing the duo. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying horror experience, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes during something horrific). Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and delivers them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and removed from his network of friends. He dreads the idea of totally forfeiting his sense of self in his partner. This fear is amplified by the reality he can’t drive and needs Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Both characters confront the kind of problems that arise in any relationship after ten years. At their core, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and fully committing to another person, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could act as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply look at your significant other and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can embark on right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu as of this moment.
