We present a dare for long-term couples who are fans of horror films: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like typical biological terror, but inside Together lies a intense examination about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a particular energy to their roles, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot commences when the couple transition from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used plot device, sure, but that’s mostly where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a strange force begins influencing the pair. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a slow burn of scares, weaving in bits of dreamlike terrors, gross (but never too gross) body horror, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his social circle. He dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is intensified by the fact he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie never makes either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Both characters grapple with the kind of problems that come with long-term unions a decade in. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these anxieties of excessive reliance and fully committing to a partner, the allegory avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have understood the narrative as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could act as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the finale inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your partner and state, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
