Consider this a test for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Get comfortable with your significant other and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it might appear like conventional body horror, but within Together resides a profound examination about the ways we decide to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have been together for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their characters, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The plot starts when the couple transition from the urban environment to the rural area for her career. A somewhat stereotypical story element, sure, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their new home, a storm hits, and the two fall into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence takes hold of the couple. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The entire film is a methodically building horror experience, weaving in bits of dreamlike terrors, gross (but never too gross) physical transformations, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his network of friends. He fears the notion of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie refrains from painting Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that are inherent in any relationship over a long period. Deep down, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these concerns of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism avoids being overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could act as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the ending inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can undertake today.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
