Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate scary movies: Sit down with your partner and view Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like typical biological terror, but inside Together lies a profound examination about the ways we decide to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their characters, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim transition from the big city to the rural area for Millie’s job. A familiar story element, sure, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim fall into an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the couple. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying horror experience, blending bits of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
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 is terrified of the idea of totally forfeiting his individual identity in another person. This fear is amplified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie confront the kind of problems that come with any relationship a decade in. At their core, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these concerns of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to another person, the metaphor avoids being overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for staying single. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could act as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply turn to your partner and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can embark on right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform now.
