We present a test for partners in committed relationships who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its streaming debut on Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like typical physical horror, but within Together exists a profound contemplation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative commences when Tim and Millie move from the big city to the country for her career. A familiar story element, sure, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their country house, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim fall into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a strange force takes hold of the pair. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building horror experience, blending elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something grotesque). The director skillfully blends these components neatly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. 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 floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and far away from his social circle. He is terrified of the concept of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships a decade in. Deep down, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these fears of codependency and fully committing to another person, the allegory never feels overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have interpreted the film as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could act as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the finale plant anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your other half and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
