Consider this a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your loved one and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like typical body horror, but within Together exists a deep contemplation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for ten years. Married in reality in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their characters, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The narrative begins when the couple move from the big city to the rural area for Millie’s job. A familiar narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the cliches conclude. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their country house, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim fall into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a strange force takes hold of the couple. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying of scares, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). The director skillfully blends these components expertly and delivers them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his floundering music career gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He dreads the idea of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he can’t drive and needs Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision is that he avoids making Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Both characters grapple with the sort of issues that arise in any relationship after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these concerns of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism avoids being hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights serve the other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have interpreted the film as a strong argument for staying single. Meanwhile, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could act as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your other half and say, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu as of this moment.
