Here's a test for partners in committed relationships who enjoy horror films: Settle in with your partner and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like standard biological terror, but beneath Together resides a deep contemplation about our choices in loving each other.
An Introductory Film Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, partners that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the actors infuse a particular energy to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot starts when the couple relocate from the big city to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used story element, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their new home, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim discover an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity begins influencing the pair. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building of scares, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He fears the concept of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is amplified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together avoids making either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Both characters grapple with the kind of problems that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these fears of codependency and fully committing to another person, the symbolism avoids being hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Conversely, some couples who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can experience at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu at present.
