Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who enjoy scary movies: Settle in with your significant other and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it might appear like standard biological terror, but beneath Together resides a profound contemplation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for over ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story starts when Tim and Millie move from the urban environment to the countryside for professional reasons. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity starts to affect the couple. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The entire film is a slow burn horror experience, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and delivers them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and distant from his social circle. He fears the concept of completely losing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he never makes one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
The couple face the type of challenges that arise in any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these fears of codependency and fully committing to another person, the symbolism never feels hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that single viewers have interpreted the film as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could function as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply turn to your partner and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu at present.
