We present a dare for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and view Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like typical physical horror, but inside Together lies a intense contemplation about how we choose to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a special spark to their roles, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when Tim and Millie move from the urban environment to the countryside for professional reasons. A familiar plot device, sure, but that’s mostly where the cliches 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 new home, a tempest descends, and the two discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity takes hold of the duo. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying fright fest, blending elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes during something disturbing). Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and delivers them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his social circle. He dreads the idea of completely losing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is intensified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie grapple with the type of challenges that are inherent in any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these concerns of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the metaphor never feels hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply look at your significant other and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform now.
