Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Get comfortable with your significant other and view Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like conventional biological terror, but inside Together resides a intense meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together marks the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have been together for ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a special spark to their characters, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot commences when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the country for professional reasons. A familiar plot device, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence takes hold of the pair. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The entire film is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing elements of fever-dream horrors, gross (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they masterfully render countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his floundering music career gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his support system. He dreads the concept of completely losing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie grapple with the sort of issues that come with any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they continue to care for each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and fully committing to a partner, the allegory never feels hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for staying single. On the other hand, some couples who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale inspire anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your other half and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform now.
