Consider this a test for long-term couples who are fans of the horror genre: Get comfortable with your partner and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like typical body horror, but inside Together exists a profound meditation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors contribute a particular energy to their characters, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The plot begins when Tim and Millie relocate from the metropolis to the rural area for her career. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity begins influencing the pair. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn fright fest, blending elements of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they deftly portray countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and removed from his support system. He fears the concept of completely losing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Both characters face the kind of problems that arise in long-term unions a decade in. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these concerns of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the allegory never feels clumsy or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could act as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your other half and say, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can undertake today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu at present.
