Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your loved one and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. On the surface, it might appear like conventional biological terror, but within Together exists a intense contemplation about our choices in loving each other.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for over ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their characters, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when Tim and Millie move from the big city to the rural area for her career. A familiar plot device, sure, but that’s mostly where the conventions conclude. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence starts to affect the pair. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The whole movie is a slow burn of scares, weaving in moments of dreamlike terrors, gross (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). The director orchestrates these parts seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and removed from his support system. He is terrified of the concept of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he never makes Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that arise in any relationship after ten years. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these fears of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism never feels overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have understood the narrative as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and state, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can embark on right now.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu now.
