Consider this a challenge for long-term couples who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your significant other and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its online premiere via Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like standard physical horror, but within Together resides a deep examination about how we choose to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the actors infuse a special spark to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The narrative commences when the couple move from the urban environment to the countryside for Millie’s job. A commonly used story element, of course, but that’s primarily where the conventions cease. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an underground cave. 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 well past emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a slow burn horror experience, weaving in bits of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together neatly and delivers them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation 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 utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and relies on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
The couple confront the type of challenges that come with most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they have affection for one another. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism avoids being hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama work together in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could function as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your other half and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
