Here's a test for partners in committed relationships who enjoy scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its streaming debut on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like standard physical horror, but beneath Together exists a deep examination about our choices in loving one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a unique chemistry to their characters, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot commences when Millie and Tim relocate from the metropolis to the country for her career. A commonly used story element, of course, but that’s primarily where the tropes conclude. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim tumble into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the duo. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying fright fest, interspersing elements of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but never too gross) physical transformations, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes during something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together expertly and wraps them up in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
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 dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is amplified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the type of challenges that are inherent in any relationship a decade in. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism avoids being clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, 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 understood the narrative as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Conversely, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could act as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending sow anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your significant other and say, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu as of this moment.
