Consider this a challenge for partners in committed relationships who appreciate the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like conventional physical horror, but within Together exists a deep meditation about how we choose to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors contribute a special spark to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot commences when Tim and Millie relocate from the big city to the rural area for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, sure, but that’s largely where the cliches cease. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their country house, a storm hits, and the protagonists discover an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a strange force begins influencing the couple. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a slow burn fright fest, blending moments of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes amidst something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and delivers them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and far away from his social circle. He fears the notion of completely losing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters confront the type of challenges that come with long-term unions after ten years. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could act as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the finale plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your other half and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu now.
