We present a test for long-term couples who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your loved one and view Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut via Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like typical body horror, but within Together lies a intense contemplation about our choices in loving each other.
An Introductory Film Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their roles, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative begins when Millie and Tim move from the big city to the country for her career. A familiar narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the cliches conclude. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their country house, a storm hits, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence starts to affect the pair. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in moments of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). The director weaves these elements together expertly and presents them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He is terrified of the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is intensified by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple face the kind of problems that are inherent in most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they continue to care for each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these fears of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that single viewers have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could function as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply look at your partner and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can embark on today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu as of this moment.
