Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of the horror genre: Get comfortable with your loved one and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere via Hulu. On the surface, it may seem like typical body horror, but within Together resides a intense contemplation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their roles, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot commences when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the countryside for Millie’s job. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim tumble into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence starts to affect the pair. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a slow burn fright fest, weaving in moments of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but tastefully done) body horror, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes amidst something disturbing). The director skillfully blends these components expertly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only the two lead actors, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and distant from his support system. He is terrified of the concept of totally forfeiting his individual identity in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that arise in most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory avoids being hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could act as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply turn to your significant other and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
