Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. At first glance, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but within Together resides a deep meditation about how we choose to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have remained a couple for over ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their roles, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The narrative starts when Millie and Tim transition from the big city to the countryside for Millie’s job. A commonly used plot device, of course, but that’s primarily where the tropes end. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the two tumble into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity takes hold of the couple. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building of scares, interspersing bits of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but never too gross) body horror, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and presents them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and far away from his support system. He fears the notion of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in another person. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie confront the sort of issues that arise in most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these fears of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory avoids being hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a strong argument for remaining unattached. On the other hand, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could function as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion inspire 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 state, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can undertake right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu at present.
