Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of the horror genre: Settle in with your significant other and view Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like conventional body horror, but inside Together lies a deep examination about how we choose to love each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The plot begins when Tim and Millie relocate from the metropolis to the country for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim tumble into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a strange force begins influencing the couple. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a slow burn horror experience, weaving in moments of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his support system. He fears the idea of completely losing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie confront the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships over a long period. At their core, they still love each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and fully committing to another person, the symbolism avoids being hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights serve the other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could function as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale sow anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply look at your significant other and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can experience right now.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
