Consider this a challenge for long-term couples who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your loved one and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut via Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like conventional physical horror, but inside Together exists a deep examination about how we choose to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for over ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their characters, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The narrative starts when the couple move from the urban environment to the countryside for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the cliches end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the duo. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn of scares, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is waning due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and removed from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of completely losing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and needs Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
The couple face the kind of problems that come with most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a strong argument for staying single. On the other hand, certain partners having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could act as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion sow anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your other half and say, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can undertake today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform now.
