Here's a dare for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere via Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like typical body horror, but inside Together resides a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a particular energy to their roles, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The plot commences when Tim and Millie relocate from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the cliches conclude. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists fall into an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the duo. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in moments of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). The director orchestrates these parts neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is only the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and distant from his network of friends. He is terrified of the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is amplified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie confront the kind of problems that come with long-term unions over a long period. At their core, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these fears of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the allegory does not come across as clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could act as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the ending plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
