Here's a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like typical biological terror, but beneath Together resides a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together marks the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for a decade. Married in actuality in 2017, the two stars infuse a particular energy to their roles, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The story commences when the couple transition from the metropolis to the country for her career. A familiar story element, of course, but that’s primarily where the conventions end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim fall into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity starts to affect the couple. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building of scares, weaving in bits of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes amidst something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together expertly and delivers them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is only the two lead actors, and they deftly portray countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his social circle. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his sense of self in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and relies on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie refrains from painting Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that come with most partnerships over a long period. At their core, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these fears of codependency and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have seen the movie as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your partner and state, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can undertake right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu as of this moment.
