We present a dare for long-term couples who appreciate scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its streaming debut on Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like typical biological terror, but beneath Together resides a deep contemplation about our choices in loving one another.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a unique chemistry to their characters, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s primarily where the cliches cease. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two discover an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity takes hold of the couple. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying horror experience, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and removed from his support system. He dreads the notion of completely losing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is amplified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
Both characters confront the kind of problems that arise in any relationship over a long period. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these concerns of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama work together symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a powerful case for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can undertake right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu now.
