We present a test for partners in committed relationships who appreciate scary movies: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit recently had its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard physical horror, but inside Together exists a profound meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The story commences when the couple move from the big city to the countryside for her career. A familiar narrative setup, of course, but that’s largely where the cliches end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity takes hold of the couple. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his floundering music career inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and far away from his network of friends. He is terrified of the concept of completely losing his sense of self in another person. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie never makes one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple confront the type of challenges that are inherent in any relationship after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these concerns of codependency and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a compelling reason for staying single. On the other hand, certain partners having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could act as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your partner and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can undertake today.
Together is streaming on Hulu as of this moment.
