We present a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your significant other and stream Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it may seem like conventional body horror, but inside Together exists a deep meditation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for a decade. Married in reality in 2017, the two stars infuse a special spark to their characters, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The plot commences when Tim and Millie relocate from the urban environment to the rural area for her career. A commonly used plot device, sure, but that’s mostly where the tropes end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their country house, a storm hits, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the couple. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a slow burn horror experience, interspersing elements of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes during something horrific). The director orchestrates these parts neatly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and removed from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple grapple with the type of challenges that arise in any relationship after ten years. At their core, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these concerns of codependency and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could function as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply turn to your partner and say, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can undertake today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
