Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your significant other and view Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its streaming debut on Hulu. On the surface, it could look like standard physical horror, but inside Together lies a deep examination about our choices in loving each other.
A Debut Feature Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for a decade. Married in actuality in 2017, the two stars infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The narrative begins when Millie and Tim transition from the metropolis to the countryside for Millie’s job. A commonly used narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s largely where the tropes end. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the two discover an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence begins influencing the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes amidst something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is only the two lead actors, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He dreads the notion of completely losing his sense of self in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie avoids making one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple grapple with the sort of issues that come with long-term unions after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the allegory does not come across as hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could function as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the finale inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply look at your other half and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can undertake right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform at present.
