Consider this a test for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of the horror genre: Get comfortable with your significant other and view Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its online premiere via Hulu. On the surface, it could look like typical biological terror, but beneath Together lies a profound meditation about how we choose to love each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together is the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, the actors infuse a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when the couple relocate from the big city to the country for her career. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, of course, but that’s primarily where the tropes cease. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a strange force takes hold of the duo. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He fears the idea of completely losing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he can’t drive and relies on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie refrains from painting either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that arise in any relationship over a long period. At their core, they still love each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor never feels hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your significant other and say, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu at present.
