Here's a dare for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your significant other and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut via Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but within Together exists a intense contemplation about our choices in loving each other.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars bring a special spark to their characters, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot commences when the couple relocate from the big city to the country for professional reasons. A commonly used plot device, sure, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists fall into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence begins influencing the pair. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The entire film is a methodically building of scares, interspersing elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) physical transformations, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and far away from his social circle. He dreads the notion of completely losing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Both characters face the kind of problems that come with long-term unions after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these concerns of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism avoids being clumsy or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could act as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply turn to your partner and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu now.
