We present a challenge for partners in committed relationships who enjoy the horror genre: Settle in with your partner and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but within Together resides a intense meditation about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a particular energy to their characters, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when Tim and Millie transition from the urban environment to the country for her career. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, sure, 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 body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their country house, a storm hits, and the protagonists tumble into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence takes hold of the couple. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying horror experience, interspersing moments of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and presents them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the concept of totally forfeiting his individual identity in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
The couple confront the sort of issues that come with any relationship a decade in. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the allegory avoids being hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for staying single. 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 potentially serve as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the ending sow anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform now.
