Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your loved one and watch Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it may seem like standard physical horror, but beneath Together lies a intense examination about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for ten years. Married in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The story begins when Tim and Millie move from the urban environment to the countryside for her career. A commonly used story element, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the conventions conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the two discover an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence starts to affect the duo. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a slow burn horror experience, interspersing moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes amidst something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together expertly and wraps them up in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is only the two lead actors, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self 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 floundering music career gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of completely losing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he never makes one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the type of challenges that come with any relationship after ten years. At their core, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these concerns of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could act as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the ending plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can embark on right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu at present.
