We present a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your partner and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it could look like typical biological terror, but inside Together resides a deep examination about our choices in loving one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have been together for a decade. Having wed in real life in 2017, the actors infuse a special spark to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The story commences when the couple transition from the urban environment to the country for professional reasons. A familiar narrative setup, sure, but that’s largely where the cliches conclude. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their new home, a storm hits, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the couple. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The whole movie is a methodically building of scares, blending elements of fever-dream horrors, gross (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes amidst something grotesque). The director orchestrates these parts neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and far away from his network of friends. He fears the concept of totally forfeiting his sense of self in another person. This fear is intensified by the fact he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie never makes either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie grapple with the type of challenges that come with most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, offer support, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these concerns of excessive reliance and fully committing to a partner, the allegory never feels overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the ending sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your partner and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can experience today.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu now.
