Here's a challenge for partners in committed relationships who enjoy scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its streaming debut via Hulu. On the surface, it could look like typical biological terror, but within Together resides a intense examination about the ways we decide to love one another.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for over ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot starts when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical story element, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The whole movie is a methodically building fright fest, blending moments of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something horrific). Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they masterfully render countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He is terrified of the concept of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in another person. This fear is intensified by the reality he can’t drive and needs Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the type of challenges that come with any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor never feels clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that single viewers have interpreted the film as a strong argument for remaining unattached. On the other hand, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could act as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the finale sow anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply look at your other half and utter, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
