We present a test for partners in committed relationships who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your loved one and view Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it might appear like typical physical horror, but inside Together lies a deep meditation about how we choose to love each other.
An Introductory Film Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars contribute a special spark to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The story starts when Tim and Millie relocate from the big city to the rural area for her career. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions conclude. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity begins influencing the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a slow burn fright fest, blending bits of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He is terrified of the notion of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is intensified by the reality he can’t drive and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he avoids making one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple grapple with the type of challenges that come with most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they continue to care for each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as clumsy or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a strong argument for remaining unattached. On the other hand, certain partners having disagreements found that the film actually helped them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your partner and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can embark on today.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform at present.
