Here's a dare for long-term couples who enjoy horror films: Settle in with your significant other and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its streaming debut on Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like conventional body horror, but within Together resides a profound contemplation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the rural area for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s primarily where the conventions conclude. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their country house, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim tumble into an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence begins influencing the duo. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building horror experience, weaving in elements of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He dreads the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is intensified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he avoids making one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple face the sort of issues that are inherent in long-term unions over a long period. At their core, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these concerns of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory never feels clumsy or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have understood the narrative as a strong argument for staying single. Conversely, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could act as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale plant anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and say, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can embark on today.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
