Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Get comfortable with your partner and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like conventional body horror, but beneath Together lies a deep meditation about our choices in loving each other.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the actors contribute a unique chemistry to their roles, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot starts when the couple move from the metropolis to the rural area for Millie’s job. A familiar narrative setup, of course, but that’s largely where the tropes conclude. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an underground cave. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying horror experience, blending elements of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but tastefully done) body horror, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes amidst something horrific). The director weaves these elements together seamlessly and presents them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and removed from his support system. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his individual identity in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he avoids making either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Both characters face the sort of issues that are inherent in any relationship 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 undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of codependency and fully committing to another person, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could act as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can embark on right now.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu at present.
