Consider this a test for long-term couples who enjoy horror films: Get comfortable with your partner and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 recently had its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like standard physical horror, but within Together exists a profound meditation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a particular energy to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The narrative starts when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the rural area for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, of course, but that’s mostly where the tropes cease. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their new home, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence starts to affect the couple. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The whole movie is a methodically building fright fest, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes during something horrific). The director orchestrates these parts seamlessly and delivers them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his floundering music career inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and far away from his support system. He fears the concept of completely losing his sense of self in another person. This fear is intensified by the fact he can’t drive and needs Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple grapple with the type of challenges that arise in most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to another person, the metaphor does not come across as overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that single viewers have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could function as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the ending sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your partner and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
