We present a challenge for long-term couples who appreciate scary movies: Sit down with your loved one and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it could look like conventional biological terror, but within Together exists a profound examination about the ways we decide to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a particular energy to their roles, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The narrative commences when the couple relocate from the big city to the country for her career. A somewhat stereotypical story element, of course, but that’s primarily where the cliches conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their new home, a storm hits, and the two tumble into an underground cave. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying fright fest, weaving in bits of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and distant from his social circle. He fears the idea of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in another person. This fear is intensified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together avoids making one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that are inherent in long-term unions after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory avoids being overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama serve the other 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 unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could act as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your partner and state, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu at present.
