Consider this a challenge for partners in committed relationships who appreciate scary movies: Sit down with your loved one and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its streaming debut via Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like typical biological terror, but inside Together lies a deep contemplation about our choices in loving our partners.
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 a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. Having wed in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their roles, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot commences when Millie and Tim relocate from the metropolis to the country for her career. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, sure, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. 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 rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists tumble into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity takes hold of the duo. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building horror experience, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes amidst something disturbing). The director skillfully blends these components seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is suffering due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and far away from his network of friends. He is terrified of the notion of completely losing his individual identity in another person. This fear is intensified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together avoids making Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
The couple grapple with the kind of problems that are inherent in long-term unions after ten years. At their core, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these fears of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor avoids being hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have interpreted the film as a strong argument for staying single. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale sow anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your significant other and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform now.
