Here's a challenge for long-term couples who appreciate scary movies: Get comfortable with your loved one and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 recently had its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like conventional biological terror, but beneath Together lies a deep contemplation about how we choose to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their characters, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The story commences when Millie and Tim move from the metropolis to the rural area for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the cliches conclude. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim discover an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity starts to affect the couple. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a slow burn of scares, weaving in elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and distant from his network of friends. He dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is amplified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie never makes either of his characters the definite antagonist.
The couple grapple with the sort of issues that are inherent in any relationship a decade in. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism never feels hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, certain partners having disagreements found that the film actually helped them make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could function as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the finale plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and state, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu now.
