We present a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its streaming debut via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like conventional physical horror, but within Together exists a profound meditation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for a decade. Married in real life in 2017, the actors bring a particular energy to their roles, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot commences when Tim and Millie move from the big city to the rural area for her career. A commonly used story element, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a strange force takes hold of the duo. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying horror experience, interspersing moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). The director skillfully blends these components seamlessly and wraps them up in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only the two lead actors, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is intensified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that come with most partnerships a decade in. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and open up 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 concerns of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the allegory avoids being clumsy or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a powerful case for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response 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 see yourself in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu now.
