We present a challenge for long-term couples who are fans of horror films: Get comfortable with your loved one and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. On the surface, it might appear like typical body horror, but within Together lies a deep examination about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for a decade. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the two stars bring a special spark to their roles, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The narrative starts when Millie and Tim relocate from the metropolis to the country for her career. A commonly used story element, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the cliches cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force takes hold of the pair. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn of scares, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, gross (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and removed from his social circle. He fears the notion of completely losing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is intensified by the reality he can’t drive and relies on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together never makes either of his characters the obvious villain.
Both characters face the type of challenges that come with any relationship over a long period. At their core, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism avoids being hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could act as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the finale plant anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your significant other and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can undertake today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
