Consider this a challenge for partners in committed relationships who are fans of horror films: Sit down with your partner and view Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut via Hulu. On the surface, it could look like standard biological terror, but within Together exists a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
An Introductory Film Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together represents the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their characters, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The plot commences when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the country for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, sure, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force takes hold of the couple. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying of scares, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his network of friends. He is terrified of the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
The couple grapple with the type of challenges that arise in most partnerships over a long period. At their core, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these anxieties of excessive reliance and fully committing to another person, the allegory never feels overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a powerful case for staying single. Meanwhile, some couples experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the finale sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
