We present a dare for partners in committed relationships who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it could look like conventional biological terror, but within Together lies a deep examination about how we choose to love each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their characters, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The story commences when Millie and Tim move from the metropolis to the countryside for professional reasons. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s primarily where the cliches conclude. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a strange force starts to affect the couple. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying horror experience, interspersing moments of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Layered Performances
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 emotional bond is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and distant from his network of friends. He fears the concept of completely losing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he can’t drive and needs Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie avoids making either of his characters the definite antagonist.
The couple grapple with the kind of problems that come with most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these fears of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory never feels clumsy or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that single viewers have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion plant anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your partner and state, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform now.
