Here's a dare for long-term couples who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your loved one and view Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut on Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like standard physical horror, but within Together lies a deep meditation about how we choose to love each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together is the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars infuse a particular energy to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The narrative starts when Millie and Tim relocate from the metropolis to the country for her career. A familiar story element, of course, but that’s largely where the tropes conclude. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two discover an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a strange force begins influencing the couple. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The entire film is a slow burn of scares, blending bits of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and presents them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He dreads the idea of totally forfeiting his sense of self in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and needs Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the sort of issues that come with most partnerships after ten years. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these fears of codependency and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your partner and state, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can undertake today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu now.
