Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your loved one and stream Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. At first glance, it may seem like typical biological terror, but within Together exists a profound examination about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have been together for over ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, the two stars contribute a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative commences when the couple move from the urban environment to the rural area for her career. A familiar story element, sure, but that’s largely where the cliches cease. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim discover an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence begins influencing the duo. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, gross (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and removed from his social circle. He fears the notion of completely losing his sense of self in another person. This fear is amplified by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that arise in long-term unions after ten years. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a powerful case for staying single. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could act as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform at present.
