Consider this a dare for long-term couples who enjoy the horror genre: Settle in with your loved one and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like standard biological terror, but inside Together resides a profound contemplation about how we choose to love each other.
An Introductory Film Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together represents the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for over ten years. Married in reality in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim transition from the metropolis to the rural area for professional reasons. A familiar plot device, sure, but that’s primarily where the cliches cease. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity begins influencing the pair. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn fright fest, weaving in bits of dreamlike terrors, gross (but never too gross) body horror, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes amidst something disturbing). The director orchestrates these parts neatly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and far away from his network of friends. He is terrified of the idea of completely losing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in Together avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
Both characters confront the type of challenges that come with long-term unions a decade in. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They share moments of joy, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of codependency and fully committing to another person, the allegory does not come across as hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a powerful case for remaining unattached. On the other hand, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could act as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending inspire anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
