Here's a dare for long-term couples who enjoy scary movies: Settle in with your partner and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its online premiere on Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like standard biological terror, but beneath Together resides a deep meditation about our choices in loving each other.
An Introductory Film Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars infuse a unique chemistry to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The story starts when the couple transition from the big city to the country for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, sure, but that’s mostly where the tropes cease. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence begins influencing the duo. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying of scares, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and presents them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is only the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He fears the notion of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in another person. This fear is intensified by the fact he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision is that he never makes one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
The couple confront the kind of problems that arise in long-term unions after ten years. Deep down, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these anxieties of excessive reliance and fully committing to another person, the allegory never feels clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your significant other and state, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu as of this moment.
