Here's a test for partners in committed relationships who enjoy horror films: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like typical biological terror, but inside Together lies a deep examination about how we choose to love one another.
A Debut Feature Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have remained a couple for a decade. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the two stars bring a special spark to their roles, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when Millie and Tim move from the big city to the countryside for her career. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, sure, 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 movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn of scares, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and distant from his support system. He fears the notion of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie avoids making Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the kind of problems that arise in most partnerships after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory avoids being hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in harmony.
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 unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, certain partners having disagreements found that the film actually helped them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply turn to your partner and state, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can undertake right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu as of this moment.
