Consider this a test for long-term couples who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its streaming debut via Hulu. On the surface, it could look like typical biological terror, but inside Together exists a intense meditation about our choices in loving one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have been together for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a special spark to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when the couple transition from the urban environment to the countryside for professional reasons. A familiar story element, of course, but that’s mostly where the cliches end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the two discover an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The whole movie is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and far away from his support system. He fears the concept of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in another person. This fear is amplified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision in Together avoids making Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Both characters face the kind of problems that come with most partnerships a decade in. Deep down, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these anxieties of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory never feels hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that single viewers have seen the movie as a compelling reason for staying single. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could act as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply turn to your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
