We present a dare for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Settle in with your loved one and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit recently had its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like typical biological terror, but beneath Together exists a intense meditation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their roles, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when Millie and Tim transition from the metropolis to the country for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the couple. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a slow burn fright fest, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and wraps them up in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his network of friends. He dreads the concept of totally forfeiting his individual identity in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he refrains from painting Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie grapple with the sort of issues that are inherent in any relationship a decade in. Deep down, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these concerns of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the ending plant anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your other half and say, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform at present.
