Consider this a test for long-term couples who are fans of the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like typical body horror, but within Together lies a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a unique chemistry to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot starts when Tim and Millie transition from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical story element, sure, but that’s largely where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the protagonists tumble into an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity takes hold of the couple. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The whole movie is a slow burn horror experience, interspersing elements of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and presents them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and far away from his network of friends. He dreads the concept of totally forfeiting his sense of self in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie never makes either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that are inherent in any relationship over a long period. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to another person, the symbolism never feels hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could act as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion inspire anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can embark on right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
