Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who enjoy horror films: Settle in with your loved one and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard physical horror, but inside Together exists a deep contemplation about the ways we decide to love each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have been together for ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The story begins when Tim and Millie transition from the urban environment to the country for professional reasons. A familiar narrative setup, of course, but that’s primarily where the conventions cease. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two tumble into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a strange force takes hold of the pair. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying horror experience, blending elements of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy 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 inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He dreads the concept of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in another person. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Both characters grapple with the sort of issues that come with most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they still love one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a strong argument for staying single. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could function as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the finale inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply look at your significant other and state, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can undertake today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
