Here's a test for partners in committed relationships who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your partner and view Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its streaming debut via Hulu. On the surface, it could look like typical body horror, but beneath Together resides a intense examination about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for over ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their characters, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The plot begins when Tim and Millie move from the urban environment to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, sure, but that’s primarily where the cliches cease. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity takes hold of the duo. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past simple connection.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, interspersing bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and presents them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and distant from his network of friends. He is terrified of the concept of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he can’t drive and relies on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together avoids making Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
The couple grapple with the sort of issues that come with any relationship after ten years. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and fully committing to another person, the metaphor avoids being overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for staying single. On the other hand, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could function as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion sow anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and say, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu at present.
