Here's a test for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy horror films: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it might appear like standard body horror, but inside Together lies a deep contemplation about our choices in loving each other.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together is the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a unique chemistry to their characters, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when Tim and Millie transition from the big city to the countryside for her career. A familiar story element, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the two discover an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence begins influencing the pair. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, interspersing elements of fever-dream horrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes during something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together neatly and wraps them up in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and far away from his support system. He dreads the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
The couple grapple with the kind of problems that arise in most partnerships after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and fully committing to another person, the symbolism never feels hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could function as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your partner and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu as of this moment.
