Consider this a test for long-term couples who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your loved one and view Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. At first glance, it may seem like typical physical horror, but within Together resides a profound meditation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. Having wed in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a special spark to their characters, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The narrative starts when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the countryside for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, sure, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists discover an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity takes hold of the duo. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a slow burn horror experience, blending elements of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something grotesque). The director orchestrates these parts neatly and wraps them up in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and distant from his support system. He fears the notion of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie never makes Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie confront the kind of problems that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. At their core, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these fears of excessive reliance and fully committing to another person, the metaphor never feels hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal work together symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a compelling reason for staying single. On the other hand, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion inspire anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify 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 experiment you can experience today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform at present.
