We present a dare for partners in committed relationships who are fans of horror films: Sit down with your loved one and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like typical biological terror, but inside Together exists a intense examination about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The story begins when Tim and Millie move from the metropolis to the country for Millie’s job. A familiar plot device, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their new home, a storm hits, and the protagonists discover an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the couple. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying fright fest, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something horrific). Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and presents them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is only the two lead actors, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in another person. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that are inherent in long-term unions over a long period. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of excessive reliance and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that single viewers have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can experience at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
