We present a challenge for partners in committed relationships who are fans of the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like standard body horror, but within Together exists a intense meditation about our choices in loving our partners.
An Introductory Film Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have been together for over ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a particular energy to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot begins when the couple relocate from the urban environment to the rural area for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their new home, a storm hits, and the two discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force takes hold of the duo. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building of scares, interspersing moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and delivers them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is waning due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He fears the idea of totally forfeiting his individual identity in Millie. This fear is amplified by the reality he can’t drive and relies on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple face the sort of issues that arise in most partnerships after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these anxieties of codependency and fully committing to another person, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that single viewers have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply look at your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can undertake right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform now.
