Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who are fans of scary movies: Settle in with your significant other and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like standard physical horror, but beneath Together exists a profound meditation about our choices in loving one another.
A Directorial Debut Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for over ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a unique chemistry to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The story begins when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the countryside for her career. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, sure, but that’s largely where the tropes end. 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 walking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim fall into an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence takes hold of the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn of scares, interspersing elements of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and distant from his support system. He is terrified of the notion of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he can’t drive and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple confront the sort of issues that are inherent in long-term unions after ten years. Deep down, they continue to care for each other. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these concerns of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could function as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale inspire anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can embark on right now.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
