We present a dare for long-term couples who enjoy scary movies: Settle in with your loved one and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its online premiere via Hulu. On the surface, it could look like typical physical horror, but within Together resides a intense contemplation about the ways we decide to love each other.
An Introductory Film Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a particular energy to their roles, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The story starts when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the countryside for professional reasons. A commonly used 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 movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a strange force begins influencing the couple. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, interspersing moments of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and wraps them up in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and far away from his network of friends. He dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the obvious villain.
Both characters face the kind of problems that come with any relationship over a long period. At their core, they still love one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these concerns of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor avoids being hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal work together symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a strong argument for remaining unattached. On the other hand, some couples having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could act as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can embark on right now.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu at present.
