Consider this a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate horror films: Get comfortable with your partner and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its streaming debut on Hulu. On the surface, it may seem like standard body horror, but inside Together exists a deep contemplation about our choices in loving each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for over ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the two stars infuse a special spark to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The plot begins when the couple relocate from the metropolis to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their country house, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim fall into an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity begins influencing the couple. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying of scares, interspersing bits of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but never too gross) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is waning due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and far away from his support system. He fears the notion of completely losing his sense of self in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together never makes Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. Deep down, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the symbolism never feels overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama work together in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Conversely, some couples who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could act as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale inspire anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply look at your other half and utter, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can experience today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform at present.
