We present a challenge for long-term couples who appreciate scary movies: Get comfortable with your loved one and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like conventional physical horror, but beneath Together resides a intense examination about how we choose to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a special spark to their characters, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The story commences when Millie and Tim relocate from the metropolis to the countryside for her career. A commonly used story element, of course, but that’s largely where the cliches end. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two tumble into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn horror experience, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and presents them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and distant from his support system. He dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he can’t drive and needs Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie avoids making one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Both characters grapple with the sort of issues that are inherent in long-term unions a decade in. Fundamentally, they continue to care for one another. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory never feels hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending inspire anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your significant other and say, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can embark on right now.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu at present.
