Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Sit down with your significant other and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its streaming debut via Hulu. On the surface, it could look like typical biological terror, but inside Together lies a profound contemplation about our choices in loving each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for over ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, the actors bring a particular energy to their roles, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot starts when Tim and Millie relocate from the big city to the rural area for professional reasons. A familiar plot device, sure, but that’s primarily where the tropes conclude. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the two discover an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity begins influencing the duo. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying of scares, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and delivers them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and removed from his support system. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his individual identity in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie avoids making one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple grapple with the kind of problems that arise in long-term unions over a long period. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism never feels clumsy or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have seen the movie as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could act as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the finale plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your partner and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
