Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Settle in with your significant other and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its streaming debut on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like standard body horror, but within Together lies a deep meditation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have been together for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars contribute a particular energy to their roles, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot commences when Tim and Millie move from the big city to the rural area for Millie’s job. A familiar plot device, of course, but that’s mostly where the cliches end. Together evolves 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 walking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim tumble into an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity takes hold of the couple. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The whole movie is a slow burn fright fest, interspersing moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) body horror, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes during something horrific). The director skillfully blends these components expertly and wraps them up in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and removed from his network of friends. He dreads the idea of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is amplified by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie face the kind of problems that arise in most partnerships over a long period. Fundamentally, they continue to care for one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of codependency and fully committing to another person, the allegory does not come across as hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your partner and state, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
