Consider this a test for long-term couples who appreciate horror films: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit recently had its streaming debut on Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like standard physical horror, but inside Together exists a deep examination about how we choose to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for over ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars contribute a unique chemistry to their characters, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The plot starts when Millie and Tim relocate from the big city to the rural area for her career. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the conventions conclude. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their new home, a storm hits, and the two fall into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying fright fest, interspersing bits of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes amidst something disturbing). The director orchestrates these parts seamlessly and presents them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and distant from his social circle. He is terrified of the concept of totally forfeiting his sense of self in his partner. This fear is intensified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie face the kind of problems that arise in long-term unions after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and fully committing to another person, the symbolism never feels clumsy or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have understood the narrative as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could function as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale plant anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your other half and say, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform at present.
