Consider this a test for partners in committed relationships who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your loved one and watch Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like conventional biological terror, but beneath Together exists a profound contemplation about the ways we decide to love each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for a decade. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars contribute 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 her career. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, of course, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence takes hold of the pair. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The whole movie is a slow burn horror experience, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes during something grotesque). The director weaves these elements together expertly and delivers them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and distant from his network of friends. He dreads the idea of completely losing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that come with any relationship over a long period. Deep down, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these fears of excessive reliance and fully committing to another person, the symbolism never feels overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could act as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your significant other and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can embark on today.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu now.
