Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your significant other and stream Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. At first glance, it could look like typical physical horror, but within Together exists a profound examination about how we choose to love one another.
An Introductory Film Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for a decade. Having wed in real life in 2017, the actors contribute a special spark to their roles, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative starts when Millie and Tim move from the big city to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the tropes conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force takes hold of the pair. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a slow burn horror experience, interspersing elements of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes during something disturbing). Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and removed from his network of friends. He fears the idea of completely losing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that come with any relationship after ten years. At their core, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of codependency and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the metaphor never feels overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Conversely, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion plant anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your significant other and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform now.
