Consider this a test for long-term couples who appreciate horror films: Get comfortable with your partner and stream Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard biological terror, but inside Together exists a deep contemplation about how we choose to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for over ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a unique chemistry to their characters, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The narrative begins when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the countryside for her career. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the tropes cease. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states 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 spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence takes hold of the duo. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The whole movie is a slow burn fright fest, weaving in bits of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and presents them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He fears the concept of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple confront the sort of issues that come with most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these concerns of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to another person, the metaphor does not come across as clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can undertake right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu as of this moment.
