Here's a challenge for long-term couples who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your significant other and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut via Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like conventional body horror, but inside Together exists a intense contemplation about how we choose to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have stayed together for over ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their characters, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The narrative begins when Millie and Tim move from the metropolis to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, admittedly, but that’s largely where the tropes end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a strange force starts to affect the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building of scares, interspersing moments of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). The director orchestrates these parts seamlessly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and removed from his support system. He fears the notion of totally forfeiting his sense of self in Millie. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie refrains from painting Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
The couple grapple with the type of challenges that come with long-term unions a decade in. At their core, they continue to care for each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism never feels overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a strong argument for remaining unattached. On the other hand, certain partners having disagreements found that the film actually helped them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your significant other and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
