Here's a test 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 streaming debut on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like typical biological terror, but within Together lies a profound contemplation about how we choose to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a special spark to their roles, skillfully embodying 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 professional reasons. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force takes hold of the couple. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The complete narrative is a methodically building of scares, interspersing elements of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together avoids making either of his characters the definite antagonist.
The couple face the sort of issues that arise in any relationship after ten years. At their core, they still love one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could function as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply look at your significant other and say, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can experience at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu as of this moment.
