Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its online premiere on Hulu. On the surface, it may seem like typical physical horror, but beneath Together lies a profound examination about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have been together for ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their characters, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The narrative begins when the couple relocate from the metropolis to the country for professional reasons. A familiar narrative setup, sure, but that’s primarily where the cliches cease. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the two tumble into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the couple. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn horror experience, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) physical transformations, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes amidst something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He is terrified of the concept of totally forfeiting his sense of self in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he never makes Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
The couple grapple with the type of challenges that are inherent in any relationship a decade in. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these fears of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory never feels overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could act as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
