We present a challenge for long-term couples who appreciate the horror genre: Sit down with your loved one and view Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. On the surface, it may seem like standard physical horror, but within Together resides a profound meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the two stars contribute a special spark to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when the couple relocate from the urban environment to the country for professional reasons. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their country house, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the couple. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing moments of dreamlike terrors, gross (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and delivers them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is only the two lead actors, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He fears the idea of completely losing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie never makes either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that come with long-term unions a decade in. Deep down, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these fears of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory does not come across as overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could act as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply look at your other half and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
