Consider this a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like conventional body horror, but inside Together exists a profound examination about our choices in loving each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together is the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their roles, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot commences when Millie and Tim transition from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical story element, of course, but that’s largely where the tropes conclude. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the two tumble into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the couple. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a slow burn fright fest, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and presents them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they deftly portray countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and distant from his social circle. He dreads the idea of completely losing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is intensified by the reality he can’t drive and relies on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie avoids making one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that arise in any relationship a decade in. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these concerns of excessive reliance and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor never feels hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for staying single. On the other hand, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform now.
