We present a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your partner and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut on Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like conventional biological terror, but within Together lies a deep meditation about our choices in loving one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together is the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for a decade. Having wed in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their roles, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot commences when the couple relocate from the big city to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the tropes cease. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and the protagonists fall into an underground cave. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity begins influencing the pair. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying fright fest, blending bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and presents them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and distant from his network of friends. He dreads the idea of totally forfeiting his sense of self in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie never makes Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie grapple with the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships over a long period. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory does not come across as overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that single viewers have interpreted the film as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could function as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the finale sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your significant other and say, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform at present.
