Consider this a test for partners in committed relationships who appreciate the horror genre: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its online premiere on Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like conventional biological terror, but inside Together exists a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love one another.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It showcases 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 two stars contribute a special spark to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story starts when Millie and Tim move from the big city to the countryside for professional reasons. A familiar story element, of course, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim tumble into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the duo. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying of scares, weaving in bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) body horror, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and presents them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is suffering due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He fears the concept of completely losing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie confront the sort of issues that come with any relationship a decade in. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these concerns of codependency and fully committing to another person, the symbolism does not come across as clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could function as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the ending sow anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your other half and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform at present.
