Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your significant other and view Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its online premiere on Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like conventional biological terror, but beneath Together lies a deep contemplation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Debut Feature Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have been together for over ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, the actors bring a unique chemistry to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story starts when the couple move from the urban environment to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s largely where the cliches conclude. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the couple. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a slow burn fright fest, weaving in elements of dreamlike terrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and presents them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and distant from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of completely losing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in Together avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. Deep down, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory does not come across as hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that single viewers have interpreted the film as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can experience today.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu at present.
