Here's a challenge for partners in committed relationships who enjoy scary movies: Settle in with your partner and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut on Hulu. On the surface, it could look like typical physical horror, but within Together resides a intense contemplation about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the two stars infuse a special spark to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative begins when Tim and Millie transition from the big city to the country for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the two tumble into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity starts to affect the duo. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past simple connection.
The entire film is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing 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 getting around.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the kind of problems that come with any relationship after ten years. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these fears of codependency and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have interpreted the film as a strong argument for staying single. Conversely, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply look at your significant other and utter, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu at present.
