Here's a dare for long-term couples who are fans of the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like typical physical horror, but within Together resides a deep examination about our choices in loving one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for a decade. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a particular energy to their characters, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The story starts when Millie and Tim transition from the urban environment to the countryside for Millie’s job. A commonly used story element, admittedly, but that’s largely where the tropes end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their country house, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence begins influencing the duo. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn horror experience, interspersing moments of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). The director orchestrates these parts seamlessly and presents them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He is terrified of the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated 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 obvious villain.
Both characters face the type of challenges that come with any relationship a decade in. At their core, they have affection for one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these fears of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the metaphor never feels hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Conversely, certain partners having disagreements found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could function as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your other half and utter, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu at present.
