Consider this a test for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Settle in with your loved one and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like standard body horror, but within Together lies a deep examination about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Debut Feature Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. Having wed in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The narrative commences when the couple move from the big city to the rural area for her career. A familiar narrative setup, sure, but that’s primarily where the tropes conclude. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their country house, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim discover an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying horror experience, weaving in bits of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and wraps them up in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and distant from his social circle. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the kind of problems that come with most partnerships a decade in. Fundamentally, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these concerns of codependency and fully committing to another person, the allegory does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a compelling reason for staying single. On the other hand, certain partners having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply turn to your other half and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu as of this moment.
