Here's a test for long-term couples who appreciate scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and view Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its online premiere via Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like standard body horror, but inside Together lies a intense contemplation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for a decade. Having wed in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their roles, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The plot commences when Tim and Millie move from the urban environment to the rural area for professional reasons. A familiar plot device, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their country house, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim discover an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the couple. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing elements of fever-dream horrors, gross (but never too gross) body horror, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes amidst something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together expertly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only the two lead actors, and they masterfully render countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and removed from his social circle. He dreads the concept of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie never makes either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple grapple with the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships a decade in. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism does not come across as clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could act as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply look at your other half and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
