Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but inside Together exists a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars contribute a particular energy to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story commences when the couple move from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used plot device, sure, but that’s mostly where the tropes conclude. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their country house, a storm hits, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a strange force takes hold of the duo. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn fright fest, interspersing bits of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a distance. Her underlying frustration 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 isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the notion of totally forfeiting his sense of self in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he never makes either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie grapple with the type of challenges that are inherent in any relationship a decade in. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, offer support, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as clumsy or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for staying single. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could function 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 either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply turn to your partner and say, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can embark on right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu now.
