We present a test for partners in committed relationships who enjoy the horror genre: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. On the surface, it could look like typical biological terror, but within Together resides a deep examination about our choices in loving our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together represents the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors contribute a special spark to their characters, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when the couple relocate from the metropolis to the country for her career. A commonly used story element, sure, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim fall into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity begins influencing the duo. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying of scares, interspersing moments of fever-dream horrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes during something disturbing). Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and removed from his social circle. He dreads the concept of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is intensified by the fact he can’t drive and relies on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie never makes Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie face the kind of problems that arise in most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they still love one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these concerns of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory avoids being overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could act as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
