Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who enjoy the horror genre: Get comfortable with your loved one and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere on Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like typical biological terror, but within Together lies a intense meditation about our choices in loving one another.
An Introductory Film Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together represents the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have been together for a decade. Having wed in reality in 2017, the actors contribute a special spark to their characters, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The story begins when the couple move from the metropolis to the rural area for professional reasons. A commonly used narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim fall into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a strange force starts to affect the pair. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The whole movie is a slow burn fright fest, weaving in elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) body horror, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes amidst something horrific). Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is only the two lead actors, and they masterfully render countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his network of friends. He fears the concept of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is intensified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
The couple face the type of challenges that are inherent in most partnerships over a long period. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory does not come across as hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that single viewers have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could act as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply turn to your significant other and say, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
