We present a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy the horror genre: Settle in with your significant other and view Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. At first glance, it could look like standard body horror, but beneath Together resides a profound contemplation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Debut Feature Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars infuse a particular energy to their roles, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the country for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical story element, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the tropes conclude. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their country house, a storm hits, and the two fall into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence takes hold of the duo. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past simple connection.
The entire film is a methodically building horror experience, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his network of friends. He dreads the notion of completely losing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is intensified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he never makes Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie grapple with the type of challenges that arise in any relationship after ten years. At their core, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these fears of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as clumsy or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could act as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform at present.
