We present a dare for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and view Together. This independent film success of 2025 recently had its streaming debut on Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but within Together exists a profound examination about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the actors bring a particular energy to their roles, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the country for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim fall into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity starts to affect the couple. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The complete narrative is a slow burn of scares, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and wraps them up in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and removed from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of completely losing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is intensified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision is that he avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie face the kind of problems that are inherent in any relationship a decade in. At their core, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and fully committing to another person, the metaphor avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights serve the other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could function as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can embark on today.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu now.
