Consider this a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Get comfortable with your loved one and view Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it may seem like standard physical horror, but within Together lies a profound contemplation about how we choose to love each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for over ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their characters, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The plot starts when the couple relocate from the metropolis to the country for professional reasons. A commonly used story element, sure, but that’s largely where the conventions conclude. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a strange force starts to affect the couple. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, interspersing elements of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but tastefully done) body horror, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and distant from his support system. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his individual identity in Millie. This fear is intensified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Both characters grapple with the sort of issues that are inherent in long-term unions after ten years. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism never feels clumsy or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights serve the other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a powerful case for staying single. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion inspire anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
