Here's a dare for long-term couples who appreciate scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its streaming debut via Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like conventional body horror, but inside Together exists a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have remained a couple for over ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the two stars infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot commences when Millie and Tim transition from the big city to the countryside for Millie’s job. A familiar plot device, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim discover an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a strange force takes hold of the couple. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building horror experience, weaving in bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and delivers them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and far away from his social circle. He dreads the idea of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is amplified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the sort of issues that are inherent in any relationship over a long period. At their core, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism never feels hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a compelling reason for staying single. On the other hand, some couples who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the finale inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your other half and say, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can experience at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu as of this moment.
