We present a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Get comfortable with your loved one and view Together. This 2025 indie hit recently had its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like standard physical horror, but within Together lies a intense examination about how we choose to love each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a special spark to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot starts when Tim and Millie transition from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the tropes conclude. 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 country house, a storm hits, and the protagonists fall into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity starts to affect the couple. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying fright fest, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and removed from his support system. He is terrified of the notion of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie refrains from painting either of his characters the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that come with long-term unions a decade in. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of excessive reliance and fully committing to another person, the metaphor never feels clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could act as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the finale sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply look at your partner and state, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
