We present a challenge for long-term couples who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your loved one and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its online premiere on Hulu. On the surface, it could look like typical body horror, but inside Together exists a profound meditation about our choices in loving each other.
A Directorial Debut Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for over ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the actors contribute a special spark to their roles, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The story begins when Millie and Tim transition from the big city to the countryside for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical story element, sure, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim fall into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the couple. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The whole movie is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in moments of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and presents them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and distant from his network of friends. He is terrified of the concept of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he refrains from painting one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Both characters confront the kind of problems that are inherent in any relationship a decade in. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these anxieties of codependency and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a powerful case for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could function as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your significant other and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform at present.
