Consider this a test for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like typical physical horror, but beneath Together lies a deep meditation about our choices in loving each other.
An Introductory Film Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The story starts when Tim and Millie relocate from the urban environment to the country for her career. A familiar plot device, admittedly, but that’s largely where the cliches conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their country house, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim fall into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a strange force begins influencing the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building of scares, interspersing elements of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something horrific). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and delivers them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and distant from his social circle. He is terrified of the notion of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he never makes either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the sort of issues that are inherent in any relationship a decade in. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor does not come across as overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the ending inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply look at your partner and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu as of this moment.
