Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like conventional biological terror, but beneath Together lies a deep contemplation about how we choose to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have stayed together for ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The narrative commences when Tim and Millie move from the big city to the country for professional reasons. A commonly used narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the cliches conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim tumble into an underground cave. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity takes hold of the pair. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and distant from his network of friends. He is terrified of the notion of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the obvious villain.
The couple grapple with the sort of issues that are inherent in long-term unions a decade in. Deep down, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism never feels clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that single viewers have interpreted the film as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your partner and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu as of this moment.
