Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your partner and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like typical body horror, but within Together exists a deep examination about our choices in loving each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have been together for a decade. Having wed in reality in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot starts when Millie and Tim transition from the big city to the countryside for Millie’s job. A familiar story element, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the cliches end. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their country house, a storm hits, and the two tumble into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity begins influencing the duo. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn of scares, interspersing elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and delivers them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and distant from his social circle. He fears the notion of totally forfeiting his sense of self in his partner. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he can’t drive and needs Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes either of his characters the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie confront the type of challenges that are inherent in most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they still love each other. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these concerns of codependency and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. It has been said that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could function as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your significant other and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can undertake right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu now.
