Consider this a dare for long-term couples who appreciate scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it could look like typical body horror, but within Together lies a deep meditation about our choices in loving each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a unique chemistry to their characters, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when the couple move from the metropolis to the country for Millie’s job. A familiar narrative setup, 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 film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the two discover an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity begins influencing the couple. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn horror experience, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and removed from his network of friends. He fears the idea of completely losing his individual identity in another person. This fear is intensified by the fact he can’t drive and relies on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
The couple grapple with the sort of issues that arise in long-term unions after ten years. Deep down, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the metaphor avoids being hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could act as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion plant anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and state, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
