We present a test for partners in committed relationships who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your loved one and watch Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its online premiere via Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like standard biological terror, but within Together exists a profound contemplation about how we choose to love one another.
A Debut Feature Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together is the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the actors infuse a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when the couple relocate from the metropolis to the country for Millie’s job. A commonly used story element, admittedly, but that’s largely where the tropes cease. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists tumble into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a slow burn horror experience, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, gross (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes during something disturbing). Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and distant from his network of friends. He fears the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie never makes Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Both characters face the kind of problems that are inherent in any relationship a decade in. At their core, they still love one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty 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 symbolism avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could act as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? 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 experiment you can undertake today.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu at present.
