Consider this a test for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy the horror genre: Get comfortable with your partner and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut via Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like conventional biological terror, but within Together lies a intense examination about our choices in loving our partners.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for a decade. Having wed in real life in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their characters, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim move from the metropolis to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s mostly where the tropes end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their country house, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a strange force begins influencing the couple. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The whole movie is a slow burn fright fest, interspersing elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and presents them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his social circle. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his individual identity in his partner. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he can’t drive and relies on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in Together refrains from painting one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Both characters face the type of challenges that arise in long-term unions a decade in. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these anxieties of excessive reliance and fully committing to another person, the symbolism avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a strong argument for staying single. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could function as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply look at your partner and say, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform now.
