We present a test for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Get comfortable with your partner and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard biological terror, but beneath Together lies a deep examination about our choices in loving each other.
An Introductory Film Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together is the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the actors contribute a particular energy to their characters, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The plot starts when the couple move from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used plot device, of course, but that’s mostly where the cliches cease. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the pair. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building of scares, weaving in elements of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together seamlessly and presents them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and removed from his network of friends. He fears the notion of completely losing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is intensified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together avoids making Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie grapple with the type of challenges that are inherent in most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these concerns of codependency and fully committing to another person, the allegory does not come across as clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply turn to your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu now.
