Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate the horror genre: Settle in with your significant other and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard biological terror, but within Together exists a profound contemplation about our choices in loving one another.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the two stars contribute a unique chemistry to their characters, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot starts when the couple transition from the urban environment to the rural area for professional reasons. A commonly used narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s largely where the cliches conclude. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn fright fest, interspersing bits of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and wraps them up in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and distant from his social circle. He fears the idea of completely losing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision is that he never makes Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the type of challenges that are inherent in any relationship over a long period. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these anxieties of excessive reliance and fully committing to another person, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could act as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your partner and say, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
