Consider this a test for partners in committed relationships who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your partner and view Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like conventional biological terror, but within Together lies a profound meditation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, partners that have stayed together for ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when Tim and Millie relocate from the big city to the rural area for professional reasons. A familiar story element, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the cliches end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their country house, a storm hits, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence takes hold of the couple. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a slow burn horror experience, interspersing moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He fears the notion of completely losing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is intensified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie refrains from painting Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Both characters grapple with the kind of problems that come with most partnerships a decade in. Deep down, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these concerns of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory avoids being clumsy or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film actually helped them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could act as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the finale inspire 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 say, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu as of this moment.
