Here's a test for long-term couples who appreciate horror films: Sit down with your significant other and stream Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it could look like conventional biological terror, but inside Together exists a intense contemplation about our choices in loving each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the two stars infuse a particular energy to their characters, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the rural area for her career. A somewhat stereotypical story element, of course, but that’s largely where the tropes cease. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists discover an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a strange force begins influencing the pair. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying fright fest, interspersing bits of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something disturbing). Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and delivers them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but 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 left the city and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie never makes either of his characters the obvious villain.
The couple face the type of challenges that are inherent in long-term unions over a long period. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these anxieties of excessive reliance and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor never feels hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have seen the movie as a powerful case for remaining unattached. On the other hand, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply look at your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can embark on right now.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu now.
