Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who are fans of scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its streaming debut via Hulu. On the surface, it could look like conventional biological terror, but beneath Together resides a profound contemplation about our choices in loving our partners.
An Introductory Film Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars contribute a particular energy to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The narrative commences when Tim and Millie transition from the big city to the countryside for Millie’s job. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s mostly where the tropes end. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their new home, a storm hits, and the protagonists discover an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity begins influencing the duo. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying fright fest, weaving in bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). The director skillfully blends these components expertly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and removed from his social circle. He is terrified of the notion of completely losing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is intensified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision is that he avoids making one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Both characters face the sort of issues that arise in any relationship over a long period. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to another person, the allegory never feels overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have understood the narrative as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could act as a great barometer 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 one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
