Consider this a test for long-term couples who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it could look like conventional physical horror, but within Together resides a deep meditation about our choices in loving one another.
A Debut Feature Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars infuse a particular energy to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim transition from the urban environment to the countryside for professional reasons. A familiar story element, sure, but that’s primarily where the tropes cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity takes hold of the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying of scares, interspersing elements of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and presents them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and distant from his social circle. He is terrified of the concept of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie never makes Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Both characters grapple with the kind of problems that arise in any relationship over a long period. At their core, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory never feels overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have understood the narrative as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could function as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the finale sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your partner and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
