Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who are fans of scary movies: Get comfortable with your loved one and view Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. On the surface, it could look like typical body horror, but within Together resides a profound examination about how we choose to love one another.
An Introductory Film Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together represents the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have been together for ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the actors infuse a particular energy to their characters, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The plot commences when the couple transition from the urban environment to the rural area for her career. A familiar story element, sure, but that’s largely where the cliches cease. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their country house, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim tumble into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity begins influencing the duo. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying of scares, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something horrific). The director orchestrates these parts expertly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and far away from his network of friends. He is terrified of the notion of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie avoids making Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Both characters grapple with the kind of problems that come with long-term unions after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the symbolism never feels overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could act as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the finale plant anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your partner and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
