Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy horror films: Get comfortable with your partner and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. At first glance, it might appear like typical physical horror, but inside Together resides a profound meditation about our choices in loving one another.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for over ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, the two stars contribute a particular energy to their characters, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The narrative starts when Tim and Millie transition from the big city to the rural area for her career. A somewhat stereotypical story element, sure, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their country house, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim fall into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a strange force begins influencing the duo. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The complete narrative is a slow burn fright fest, interspersing elements of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes amidst something horrific). Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and delivers them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and distant from his network of friends. He dreads the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie never makes one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
The couple confront the kind of problems that come with long-term unions a decade in. Deep down, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these anxieties of codependency and fully committing to a partner, the allegory avoids being hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a strong argument for staying single. Conversely, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the ending plant 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 other half and say, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu now.
