Consider this a test for long-term couples who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like typical biological terror, but within Together exists a deep examination about how we choose to love each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors contribute a special spark to their characters, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The plot commences when Tim and Millie relocate from the urban environment to the country for Millie’s job. A commonly used plot device, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the cliches cease. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their new home, a tempest descends, 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 compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building fright fest, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and delivers them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his network of friends. He dreads the idea of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he can’t drive and relies on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision in Together refrains from painting one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Both characters confront the type of challenges that come with most partnerships after ten years. At their core, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism avoids being clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could function as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion plant anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is streaming on Hulu at present.
