We present a challenge for partners in committed relationships who are fans of scary movies: Settle in with your loved one and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its streaming debut on Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like conventional biological terror, but inside Together exists a profound meditation about how we choose to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the actors bring a particular energy to their characters, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The narrative begins when the couple move from the metropolis to the rural area for her career. A familiar story element, admittedly, but that’s largely where the cliches cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and the protagonists tumble into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the duo. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The entire film is a methodically building of scares, weaving in bits of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). The director weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is only the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his floundering music career inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and removed from his network of friends. He is terrified of the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in Millie. 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 never makes Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Both characters face the kind of problems that arise in long-term unions over a long period. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these concerns of excessive reliance and fully committing to a partner, the allegory never feels clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply look at your significant other and say, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform now.
