Consider this a test for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Get comfortable with your partner and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its online premiere on Hulu. On the surface, it may seem like typical physical horror, but inside Together resides a profound examination about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Debut Feature Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for over ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, the actors bring a unique chemistry to their roles, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The narrative starts when the couple relocate from the big city to the countryside for professional reasons. A familiar plot device, admittedly, but that’s largely where the cliches cease. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim tumble into an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building of scares, interspersing elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but never too gross) body horror, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes amidst something horrific). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and presents them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and removed from his support system. He fears the concept of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is intensified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the obvious villain.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that are inherent in any relationship after ten years. At their core, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements 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 finale sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply look at your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can experience at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu at present.
