Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who enjoy scary movies: Settle in with your significant other and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like standard body horror, but within Together resides a intense examination about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the two stars contribute a unique chemistry to their characters, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot starts when the couple move from the urban environment to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, of course, but that’s mostly where the conventions conclude. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the couple. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, interspersing bits of fever-dream horrors, gross (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and removed from his support system. He fears the idea of completely losing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is amplified by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision is that he never makes either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the sort of issues that come with any relationship a decade in. Deep down, they continue to care for each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism never feels hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the finale sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and say, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu at present.
