Here's a test for partners in committed relationships who are fans of horror films: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 recently had its online premiere on the Hulu service. On the surface, it could look like typical biological terror, but beneath Together lies a deep examination about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together marks the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for a decade. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the actors contribute a particular energy to their roles, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The story starts when Tim and Millie transition from the metropolis to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions conclude. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity takes hold of the couple. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The whole movie is a slow burn of scares, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something grotesque). The director orchestrates these parts seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He is terrified of the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he can’t drive and needs Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together avoids making one partner or the other the obvious villain.
The couple face the type of challenges that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the metaphor does not come across as overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that single viewers have understood the narrative as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
