Consider this a challenge for partners in committed relationships who appreciate scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and stream Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it could look like typical body horror, but inside Together exists a deep examination about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have been together for over ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their roles, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The narrative commences when Tim and Millie move from the metropolis to the country for her career. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, of course, but that’s mostly where the conventions end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their country house, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity begins influencing the duo. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building fright fest, interspersing bits of dreamlike terrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes during something horrific). The director skillfully blends these components expertly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and removed from his network of friends. He is terrified of the notion of totally forfeiting his individual identity in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision is that he never makes one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie confront the type of challenges that come with long-term unions over a long period. Deep down, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these fears of excessive reliance and fully committing to a partner, the allegory avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Conversely, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could act as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale plant anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply look at your partner and state, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can embark on today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
