Consider this a challenge for long-term couples who are fans of the horror genre: Settle in with your partner and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like conventional physical horror, but inside Together exists a profound examination about the ways we decide to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors infuse a particular energy to their characters, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot begins when Tim and Millie move from the metropolis to the rural area for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s largely where the cliches cease. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their country house, a storm hits, and the two discover an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a strange force begins influencing the duo. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The entire film is a methodically building fright fest, blending moments of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and presents them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He fears the notion of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is intensified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie never makes one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie confront the sort of issues that come with most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Conversely, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could act as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply look at your significant other and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can embark on right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
