Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate horror films: Sit down with your loved one and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like conventional biological terror, but within Together exists a profound meditation about our choices in loving each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have stayed together for a decade. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their characters, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The story starts when Millie and Tim relocate from the big city to the country for her career. A somewhat stereotypical story element, sure, but that’s primarily where the conventions cease. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their country house, a storm hits, and the two fall into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a strange force takes hold of the pair. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a slow burn of scares, weaving in bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is suffering due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and removed from his support system. He dreads the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie never makes Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the sort of issues that arise in long-term unions a decade in. At their core, they have affection for one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama serve the other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that single viewers have seen the movie as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the finale sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your partner and state, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform at present.
