We present a dare for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like standard physical horror, but inside Together resides a profound contemplation about how we choose to love one another.
A Debut Feature Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for a decade. Married in reality in 2017, the two stars infuse a unique chemistry to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The narrative commences when Millie and Tim transition from the big city to the country for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s primarily where the conventions cease. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the protagonists tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a strange force takes hold of the couple. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a slow burn fright fest, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and wraps them up in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is only the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and removed from his social circle. He is terrified of the concept of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie avoids making one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple face the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these concerns of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism avoids being overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your other half and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform at present.
