Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who are fans of scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its online premiere on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like conventional body horror, but within Together exists a profound examination about our choices in loving each other.
An Introductory Film Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have been together for ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a unique chemistry to their characters, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The story starts when the couple move from the big city to the countryside for her career. A commonly used plot device, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim discover an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence takes hold of the pair. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building horror experience, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and distant from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of totally forfeiting his individual identity in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and needs Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie never makes either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters grapple with the type of challenges that arise in most partnerships over a long period. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these anxieties of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have interpreted the film as a powerful case for staying single. Conversely, some couples who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could act as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and say, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can undertake today.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu now.
