We present a test for partners in committed relationships who enjoy the horror genre: Settle in with your partner and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit recently had its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but inside Together lies a intense contemplation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the actors contribute a particular energy to their characters, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The narrative starts when the couple relocate from the big city to the rural area for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical story element, sure, but that’s primarily where the conventions cease. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the two discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the duo. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The whole movie is a slow burn horror experience, weaving in bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and delivers them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He fears the idea of totally forfeiting his sense of self in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie never makes one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Both characters grapple with the kind of problems that are inherent in most partnerships a decade in. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could act as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and say, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can undertake right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
