We present a test for partners in committed relationships who appreciate scary movies: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it could look like conventional physical horror, but beneath Together lies a intense contemplation about how we choose to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a particular energy to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The plot commences when Millie and Tim transition from the metropolis to the rural area for professional reasons. A familiar story element, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists tumble into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence takes hold of the pair. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn fright fest, interspersing moments of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and presents them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and removed from his network of friends. He dreads the concept of totally forfeiting his individual identity in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he can’t drive and needs Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he never makes Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Both characters grapple with the sort of issues that come with long-term unions a decade in. Deep down, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, offer support, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to another person, the allegory never feels overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama work together symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that single viewers have understood the narrative as a strong argument for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the ending sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your partner and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu at present.
