We present a challenge for long-term couples who enjoy the horror genre: Get comfortable with your significant other and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its streaming debut via Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like conventional physical horror, but beneath Together exists a profound examination about the ways we decide to love one another.
An Introductory Film Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have been together for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors bring a particular energy to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The story commences when the couple transition from the big city to the countryside for Millie’s job. A familiar plot device, of course, but that’s largely where the cliches cease. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a strange force takes hold of the couple. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The whole movie is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing moments of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes amidst something grotesque). The director skillfully blends these components seamlessly and presents them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He dreads the idea of completely losing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is intensified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the obvious villain.
Both characters confront the kind of problems that arise in any relationship a decade in. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the allegory never feels hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights serve the other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply look at your other half and state, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu now.
