We present a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your loved one and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like standard physical horror, but within Together resides a deep contemplation about the ways we decide to love one another.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a particular energy to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The plot starts when Tim and Millie transition from the metropolis to the rural area for professional reasons. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s largely where the tropes conclude. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their new home, a storm hits, and the two tumble into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn fright fest, interspersing moments of dreamlike terrors, gross (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and delivers them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the notion of completely losing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie grapple with the sort of issues that come with long-term unions a decade in. Deep down, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these concerns of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to another person, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could function as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending plant anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply turn to your partner and state, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
