We present a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Get comfortable with your loved one and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. At first glance, it could look like typical biological terror, but inside Together lies a intense meditation about how we choose to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for over ten years. Married in reality in 2017, the two stars infuse a particular energy to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The plot commences when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the rural area for her career. A commonly used plot device, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the tropes cease. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their new home, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim discover an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence takes hold of the pair. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The complete narrative is a slow burn horror experience, blending elements of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but tastefully done) body horror, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes during something disturbing). The director skillfully blends these components seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and far away from his network of friends. He dreads the idea of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting one partner or the other the obvious villain.
The couple grapple with the sort of issues that come with long-term unions over a long period. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory never feels hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama work together in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that single viewers have understood the narrative as a strong argument for staying single. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and state, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can embark on today.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform now.
