We present a test for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Get comfortable with your loved one and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like typical biological terror, but within Together lies a deep examination about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars infuse a special spark to their characters, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The plot begins when the couple transition from the urban environment to the countryside for Millie’s job. A familiar plot device, of course, but that’s mostly where the tropes end. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and removed from his network of friends. He is terrified of the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in Together never makes either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters confront the type of challenges that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor does not come across as overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama work together symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. On the other hand, some couples having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply turn to your significant other and say, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu now.
