Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Get comfortable with your loved one and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. At first glance, it could look like typical biological terror, but inside Together exists a profound meditation about how we choose to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut 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 been together for ten years. Married in reality in 2017, the actors contribute a unique chemistry to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when Tim and Millie relocate from the big city to the countryside for professional reasons. A commonly used story element, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the conventions cease. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists tumble into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence starts to affect the couple. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The whole movie is a methodically building of scares, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and far away from his social circle. He dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in another person. This fear is intensified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie never makes either of his characters the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie confront the sort of issues that come with most partnerships over a long period. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, 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 totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor does not come across as hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could function as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the finale plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your partner and say, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can undertake today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
