Consider this a dare for long-term couples who appreciate the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like conventional biological terror, but beneath Together lies a profound contemplation about how we choose to love each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for a decade. Married in actuality in 2017, the actors infuse a special spark to their roles, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The plot starts when Millie and Tim relocate from the metropolis to the countryside for professional reasons. A familiar narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their country house, a storm hits, and the protagonists fall into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity begins influencing the couple. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying horror experience, weaving in moments of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes amidst something disturbing). The director orchestrates these parts seamlessly and wraps them up in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only the two lead actors, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is waning due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his support system. He fears the notion of totally forfeiting his sense of self in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie refrains from painting Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Both characters confront the type of challenges that arise in any relationship a decade in. At their core, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor avoids being hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your partner and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can experience at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu as of this moment.
