Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like standard body horror, but within Together resides a profound meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors bring a unique chemistry to their roles, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative begins when Tim and Millie transition from the metropolis to the countryside for professional reasons. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s largely where the cliches cease. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim fall into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a slow burn horror experience, blending elements of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something grotesque). Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He fears the concept of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
The couple confront the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships over a long period. 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 undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these fears of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory never feels hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could function as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply look at your partner and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can embark on today.
Together is streaming on Hulu at present.
