Here's a dare for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy horror films: Sit down with your loved one and view Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like standard biological terror, but beneath Together lies a deep contemplation about how we choose to love each other.
An Introductory Film Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for over ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a particular energy to their characters, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot starts when Millie and Tim transition from the urban environment to the country for her career. A commonly used story element, sure, but that’s largely where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their country house, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim discover an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a strange force starts to affect the pair. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The whole movie is a methodically building horror experience, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, gross (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something disturbing). The director skillfully blends these components neatly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is only the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He fears the notion of completely losing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is amplified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he never makes one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the kind of problems that come with any relationship a decade in. At their core, they continue to care for each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these fears of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that single viewers have seen the movie as a compelling reason for staying single. Meanwhile, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu now.
