Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who are fans of scary movies: Settle in with your significant other and stream Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it might appear like typical body horror, but inside Together resides a profound contemplation about our choices in loving our partners.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a unique chemistry to their characters, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim transition from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical story element, sure, but that’s largely where the cliches end. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their country house, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim discover an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a strange force takes hold of the duo. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building fright fest, interspersing bits of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is only the two lead actors, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is waning due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and distant from his support system. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his individual identity in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Both characters confront the kind of problems that come with long-term unions a decade in. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of codependency and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory avoids being hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the ending inspire anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
