We present a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your loved one and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its streaming debut on Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like standard physical horror, but beneath Together resides a deep contemplation about our choices in loving each other.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have been together for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a particular energy to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim relocate from the big city to the country for Millie’s job. A familiar narrative setup, of course, but that’s mostly where the tropes cease. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying fright fest, weaving in moments of dreamlike terrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes amidst something horrific). Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and distant from his network of friends. He is terrified of the idea of totally forfeiting his sense of self in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he never makes either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie confront the type of challenges that are inherent in any relationship over a long period. At their core, they still love one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory never feels hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. On the other hand, some couples having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them 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 finale inspire anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your other half and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu as of this moment.
