Consider this a dare for long-term couples who appreciate scary movies: Sit down with your loved one and stream Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. At first glance, it may seem like standard body horror, but within Together lies a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for a decade. Having wed in real life in 2017, the two stars contribute a particular energy to their roles, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative commences when the couple move from the metropolis to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions conclude. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying fright fest, blending bits of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and delivers them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and removed from his network of friends. He is terrified of the concept of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie never makes one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the sort of issues that are inherent in long-term unions after ten years. Deep down, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these concerns of codependency and fully committing to another person, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama serve the other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have understood the narrative as a strong argument for staying single. Meanwhile, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply look at your partner and state, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can experience right now.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu at present.
