Here's a test for partners in committed relationships who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its online premiere on Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like standard biological terror, but inside Together resides a deep contemplation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for over ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a special spark to their roles, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The narrative starts when Tim and Millie transition from the metropolis to the countryside for Millie’s job. A familiar story element, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the tropes conclude. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists fall into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past simple connection.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying horror experience, interspersing elements of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes amidst something horrific). The director orchestrates these parts seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and far away from his support system. He fears the notion of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie refrains from painting one partner or the other the obvious villain.
The couple grapple with the kind of problems that arise in most partnerships after ten years. 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 persistent feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these concerns of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to another person, the allegory does not come across as overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the ending plant anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and utter, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can undertake right now.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
