Here's a test for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy horror films: Settle in with your partner and view Together. This independent film success of 2025 recently had its streaming debut on the Hulu service. On the surface, it might appear like typical biological terror, but inside Together exists a intense contemplation about how we choose to love one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for over ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their roles, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The story commences when Millie and Tim transition from the big city to the country for Millie’s job. A familiar narrative setup, sure, but that’s largely where the tropes end. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their country house, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim discover an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity takes hold of the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building of scares, interspersing moments of dreamlike terrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and far away from his network of friends. He dreads the concept of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is amplified by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that arise in most partnerships after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism never feels hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for staying single. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
