Here's a challenge for long-term couples who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard physical horror, but beneath Together lies a deep meditation about how we choose to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together is the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a unique chemistry to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The narrative commences when Tim and Millie transition from the urban environment to the countryside for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions conclude. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two fall into an underground cave. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence takes hold of the couple. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building of scares, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes amidst something horrific). The director skillfully blends these components neatly and delivers them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they masterfully render countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and distant from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he can’t drive and needs Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision is that he never makes Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Both characters grapple with the type of challenges that come with long-term unions after ten years. Deep down, they still love one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism never feels overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have understood the narrative as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, some couples who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could function as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the finale sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your other half 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 now.
