Consider this a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its online premiere via Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like typical body horror, but beneath Together exists a profound contemplation about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together is the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors infuse a special spark to their roles, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative begins when Tim and Millie move from the big city to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, of course, but that’s largely where the cliches end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists fall into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a strange force begins influencing the couple. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a slow burn horror experience, interspersing elements of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and distant from his support system. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and needs Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie refrains from painting Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
The couple grapple with the type of challenges that come with long-term unions after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor does not come across as clumsy or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other 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. It has been said that single viewers have interpreted the film as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could function as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the finale sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can embark on right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
