Here's a dare for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Get comfortable with your loved one and view Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard body horror, but within Together lies a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together represents the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The narrative commences when the couple relocate from the big city to the countryside for Millie’s job. A commonly used story element, sure, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim tumble into an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a strange force takes hold of the couple. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying of scares, weaving in moments of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and delivers them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is only the two lead actors, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and removed from his network of friends. He dreads the idea of totally forfeiting his individual identity in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie avoids making Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
The couple grapple with the kind of problems that arise in most partnerships a decade in. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor avoids being hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present 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 final act, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could act as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale plant anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your partner and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
