We present a test for long-term couples who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your loved one and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard biological terror, but within Together lies a profound contemplation about how we choose to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a unique chemistry to their roles, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative begins when Millie and Tim transition from the metropolis to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, of course, but that’s mostly where the cliches cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two fall into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a strange force begins influencing the couple. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The entire film is a methodically building of scares, interspersing moments of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and presents them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and removed from his network of friends. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his individual identity in his partner. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple face the sort of issues that come with long-term unions a decade in. Deep down, they continue to care for each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor avoids being hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners who were in conflict 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 telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your other half and state, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can undertake today.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu now.
