Here's a challenge for partners in committed relationships who are fans of scary movies: Get comfortable with your loved one and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. At first glance, it may seem like typical body horror, but inside Together lies a intense examination about how we choose to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors infuse a particular energy to their roles, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The narrative commences when Millie and Tim relocate from the big city to the country for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim fall into an underground cave. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence takes hold of the duo. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying of scares, interspersing elements of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and removed from his support system. He fears the notion of completely losing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he can’t drive and relies on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Both characters confront the type of challenges that come with most partnerships a decade in. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these fears of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism never feels overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your significant other and say, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform at present.
