Here's a test for long-term couples who enjoy horror films: Sit down with your loved one and view Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like typical physical horror, but beneath Together resides a deep meditation about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for over ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the actors bring a unique chemistry to their characters, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The plot begins when Tim and Millie move from the metropolis to the countryside for her career. A familiar narrative setup, of course, but that’s primarily where the conventions conclude. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their country house, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a strange force takes hold of the pair. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past simple connection.
The entire film is a slow burn horror experience, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and far away from his network of friends. He dreads the concept of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision is that he avoids making Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie confront the type of challenges that arise in most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these fears of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the allegory does not come across as hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a strong argument for remaining unattached. On the other hand, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can undertake right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
