We present a test for long-term couples who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. On the surface, it might appear like conventional body horror, but beneath Together exists a profound contemplation about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for a decade. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the two stars infuse a unique chemistry to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The narrative begins when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the country for her career. A familiar narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the cliches conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists tumble into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building of scares, weaving in elements of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). The director weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they masterfully render 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 pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and far away from his network of friends. He fears the idea of utterly sacrificing 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 transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together never makes Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that come with most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they have affection for one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these concerns of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism never feels clumsy or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama serve the other symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could function as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending sow anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and say, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu as of this moment.
