We present a challenge for partners in committed relationships who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its streaming debut on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it might appear like typical biological terror, but beneath Together exists a profound examination about our choices in loving our partners.
A Debut Feature Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker 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 remained a couple for a decade. Married in reality in 2017, the actors contribute a unique chemistry to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The story starts when Millie and Tim transition from the urban environment to the countryside for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. 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 the two tumble into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity starts to affect the duo. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The whole movie is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but never too gross) physical transformations, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and presents them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the concept of completely losing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he can’t drive and relies on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie avoids making one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Both characters grapple with the type of challenges that come with long-term unions after ten years. At their core, they have affection for one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these fears of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. It has been said that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your other half and state, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu as of this moment.
