Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who are fans of scary movies: Get comfortable with your loved one and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. At first glance, it could look like typical biological terror, but within Together exists a profound examination about how we choose to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for a decade. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the two stars infuse a unique chemistry to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when the couple transition from the big city to the country for Millie’s job. A familiar narrative setup, sure, but that’s primarily where the tropes end. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim tumble into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a strange force takes hold of the couple. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying of scares, blending elements of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) body horror, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and presents them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and removed from his support system. He fears the concept of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together avoids making one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that are inherent in long-term unions a decade in. Fundamentally, they continue to care for one another. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these concerns of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory never feels overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your partner and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is streaming on Hulu as of this moment.
