Consider this a challenge for partners in committed relationships who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your significant other and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. On the surface, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but within Together resides a intense examination about our choices in loving each other.
A Debut Feature Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The story starts when Millie and Tim transition from the urban environment to the country for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, of course, but that’s primarily where the tropes end. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists tumble into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity takes hold of the pair. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn horror experience, interspersing bits of fever-dream horrors, gross (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and far away from his support system. He fears the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is amplified by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie confront the sort of issues that come with most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these anxieties of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have understood the narrative as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your partner and state, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can embark on today.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu at present.
