Here's a challenge for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your significant other and watch Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its streaming debut on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like standard physical horror, but within Together exists a intense examination about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have been together for a decade. Married in real life in 2017, the actors bring a unique chemistry to their characters, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The narrative starts when Tim and Millie move from the big city to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the conventions conclude. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists discover an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a strange force begins influencing the pair. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building horror experience, blending moments of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes amidst something horrific). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and presents them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and distant from his support system. He is terrified of the concept of totally forfeiting his sense of self in Millie. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple face the type of challenges that come with any relationship a decade in. Deep down, they still love each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism avoids being overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your partner and state, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can embark on today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu as of this moment.
