Consider this a test for long-term couples who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like typical body horror, but within Together exists a deep contemplation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together is the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a particular energy to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The narrative starts when the couple move from the big city to the country for Millie’s job. A commonly used story element, sure, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity starts to affect the duo. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The entire film is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing bits of dreamlike terrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is only the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He dreads the concept of totally forfeiting his individual identity in another person. This fear is intensified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision is that he never makes one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that arise in most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they still love each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism never feels clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that single viewers have seen the movie as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
