Consider this a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your significant other and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its online premiere via Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like standard biological terror, but inside Together resides a profound meditation about our choices in loving each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for a decade. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the actors infuse a particular energy to their roles, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The narrative begins when the couple move from the urban environment to the rural area for her career. A commonly used plot device, sure, but that’s largely where the tropes end. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity begins influencing the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying fright fest, weaving in bits of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and removed from his support system. He dreads the idea of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is intensified by the fact he can’t drive and needs Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that come with most partnerships a decade in. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama work together symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the finale inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can undertake today.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu now.
