Consider this a dare for long-term couples who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your loved one and view Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like typical physical horror, but within Together exists a intense meditation about our choices in loving each other.
A Directorial Debut Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars bring a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim move from the big city to the countryside for professional reasons. A commonly used story element, sure, but that’s mostly where the cliches conclude. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the two discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a strange force begins influencing the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building of scares, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his support system. He dreads the notion of completely losing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision is that he avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. 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 inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of excessive reliance and fully committing to another person, the symbolism never feels overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights serve the other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a powerful case for staying single. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could function as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply turn to your partner and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu now.
