We present a dare for long-term couples who enjoy horror films: Sit down with your significant other and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like typical biological terror, but inside Together exists a intense examination about how we choose to love one another.
A Debut Feature Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a special spark to their characters, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The story begins when Tim and Millie relocate from the metropolis to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the conventions conclude. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their country house, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim fall into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the duo. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The entire film is a slow burn of scares, blending bits of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and delivers them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is only the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He is terrified of the idea of totally forfeiting his sense of self in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he never makes one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie confront the sort of issues that arise in most partnerships over a long period. At their core, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these anxieties of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism avoids being hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could act as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your partner and say, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
