We present a dare for partners in committed relationships who are fans of scary movies: Settle in with your partner and stream Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its online premiere on the Hulu service. On the surface, it could look like standard body horror, but inside Together lies a deep meditation about our choices in loving one another.
A Debut Feature Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together is the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have been together for over ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the two stars bring a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The story commences when the couple move from the urban environment to the countryside for her career. A familiar story element, sure, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the protagonists tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a strange force begins influencing the pair. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn fright fest, weaving in bits of fever-dream horrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his floundering music career gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in another person. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that come with any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory does not come across as overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. It has been said that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could act as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply look at your partner and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can embark on right now.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu now.
