Consider this a dare for long-term couples who appreciate scary movies: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like typical body horror, but beneath Together resides a intense contemplation about our choices in loving each other.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together is the debut feature-length film 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. Having wed in reality in 2017, the actors contribute a particular energy to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The story begins when the couple relocate from the metropolis to the countryside for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical story element, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists fall into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity begins influencing the couple. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The whole movie is a methodically building fright fest, interspersing bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and distant from his network of friends. He is terrified of the concept of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he can’t drive and needs Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes either of his characters the obvious villain.
The couple face the kind of problems that arise in any relationship after ten years. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor avoids being overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that single viewers have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could act as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your partner and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
