Consider this a test for partners in committed relationships who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your significant other and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. On the surface, it might appear like typical body horror, but within Together resides a profound examination about our choices in loving our partners.
An Introductory Film Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for a decade. Married in reality in 2017, the actors infuse a particular energy to their roles, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The narrative commences when Tim and Millie move from the metropolis to the rural area for her career. A somewhat stereotypical story element, of course, but that’s primarily where the cliches conclude. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their country house, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence begins influencing the couple. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying of scares, interspersing bits of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but never too gross) physical transformations, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is only the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his social circle. He is terrified of the idea of completely losing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision is that he never makes one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Both characters face the sort of issues that arise in any relationship a decade in. At their core, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism avoids being overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. On the other hand, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the ending inspire anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your partner and say, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can undertake today.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
