Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who enjoy horror films: Get comfortable with your significant other and stream Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. At first glance, it could look like conventional physical horror, but inside Together exists a deep examination about how we choose to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks 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, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars infuse a special spark to their roles, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot starts when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the country for professional reasons. A commonly used story element, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The whole movie is a methodically building of scares, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but never too gross) physical transformations, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes during something grotesque). The director weaves these elements together seamlessly and presents them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and removed from his network of friends. He fears the notion of utterly sacrificing 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 mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie refrains from painting one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Both characters grapple with the type of challenges that are inherent in most partnerships a decade in. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of codependency and fully committing to another person, the symbolism never feels overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama work together symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your significant other and say, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can embark on today.
Together is streaming on Hulu at present.
