We present a test for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Sit down with your loved one and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but inside Together lies a deep contemplation about our choices in loving each other.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have stayed together for over ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, the two stars bring a special spark to their characters, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The story starts when Tim and Millie transition from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used plot device, of course, but that’s largely where the tropes cease. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the two discover an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a strange force takes hold of the couple. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a slow burn fright fest, weaving in bits of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and delivers them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and relies on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie never makes one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
The couple grapple with the kind of problems that come with most partnerships a decade in. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these fears of excessive reliance and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism never feels clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama serve the other symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion inspire anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply look at your significant other and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform at present.
