Here's a challenge for partners in committed relationships who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it might appear like typical physical horror, but inside Together lies a profound examination about how we choose to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars contribute a special spark to their characters, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The plot begins when Tim and Millie relocate from the urban environment to the countryside for Millie’s job. A commonly used story element, of course, but that’s largely where the cliches cease. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their country house, a storm hits, and the protagonists fall into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a strange force takes hold of the couple. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing moments of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but never too gross) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and distant from his social circle. He is terrified of the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie never makes one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie confront the type of challenges that come with most partnerships a decade in. Deep down, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of codependency and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the metaphor never feels overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your other half and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
