Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who are fans of the horror genre: Settle in with your loved one and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard physical horror, but inside Together exists a deep contemplation about our choices in loving one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors infuse a special spark to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative commences when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the country for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their new home, a storm hits, and the protagonists discover an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a slow burn of scares, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but never too gross) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and wraps them up in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and removed from his support system. He dreads the idea of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in another person. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie never makes one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
The couple face the type of challenges that come with any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism avoids being overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for staying single. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending sow anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply look at your partner and state, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience today.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform at present.
