We present a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your loved one and stream Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like standard biological terror, but within Together resides a profound examination about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, partners that have stayed together for a decade. Having wed in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a particular energy to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The plot begins when Tim and Millie move from the big city to the countryside for her career. A familiar story element, of course, but that’s mostly where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity starts to affect the couple. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a slow burn horror experience, interspersing elements of fever-dream horrors, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and delivers them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and removed from his social circle. He fears the notion of totally forfeiting his individual identity in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision in Together never makes one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple face the kind of problems that arise in most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these concerns of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the symbolism avoids being overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could act as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the ending inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your significant other and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform now.
