We present a challenge for long-term couples who are fans of horror films: Get comfortable with your partner and stream Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its online premiere via Hulu. On the surface, it could look like typical physical horror, but within Together lies a deep examination about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have been together for over ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their roles, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The plot begins when the couple move from the big city to the country for Millie’s job. A familiar story element, of course, but that’s largely where the tropes end. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists tumble into an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity takes hold of the duo. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but tastefully done) body horror, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is intensified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie confront the sort of issues that arise in any relationship over a long period. Fundamentally, they continue to care for one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to another person, the metaphor does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have understood the narrative as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your significant other and say, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can embark on right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
