Here's a challenge for partners in committed relationships who appreciate scary movies: Get comfortable with your significant other and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 recently had its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like typical biological terror, but within Together lies a deep meditation about our choices in loving one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. Married in actuality in 2017, the actors contribute a particular energy to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim transition from the metropolis to the rural area for her career. A commonly used plot device, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the conventions end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a strange force begins influencing the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past simple connection.
The complete narrative is a methodically building of scares, weaving in elements of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but never too gross) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). The director skillfully blends these components neatly and wraps them up 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 countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the notion of completely losing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he can’t drive and needs Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the kind of problems that arise in most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these concerns of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory never feels overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply turn to your other half and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu now.
