Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and view Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its streaming debut on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like conventional body horror, but beneath Together exists a deep examination about the ways we decide to love one another.
An Introductory Film Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. Married in reality in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The story begins when the couple relocate from the urban environment to the country for Millie’s job. A familiar plot device, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the cliches cease. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and the protagonists fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity begins influencing the pair. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn horror experience, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and presents them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the concept of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is amplified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie refrains from painting Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Both characters face the sort of issues that arise in most partnerships over a long period. At their core, they still love each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, some couples experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response 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 recognize your own traits in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your partner and say, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can embark on right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu as of this moment.
