Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate the horror genre: Get comfortable with your significant other and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard biological terror, but inside Together lies a profound contemplation about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have been together for over ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the two stars contribute a particular energy to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The narrative commences when the couple move from the metropolis to the countryside for her career. A somewhat stereotypical story element, of course, but that’s mostly where the cliches conclude. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the duo. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying horror experience, blending bits of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something grotesque). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and removed from his support system. He dreads the notion of completely losing his sense of self in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple face the kind of problems that are inherent in any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they continue to care for each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the metaphor avoids being overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could function as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply look at your other half and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
