We present a test for long-term couples who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your significant other and stream Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its streaming debut on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like typical biological terror, but inside Together exists a deep contemplation about how we choose to love one another.
A Debut Feature Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for a decade. Married in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when Tim and Millie move from the big city to the rural area for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the cliches conclude. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and the protagonists discover an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity starts to affect the duo. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying horror experience, weaving in bits of dreamlike terrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes amidst something horrific). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and delivers them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and distant from his social circle. He dreads the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
Both characters face the type of challenges that come with most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these fears of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the allegory never feels overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could function as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply look at your other half and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform at present.
