Here's a test for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its streaming debut on Hulu. On the surface, it could look like standard biological terror, but beneath Together resides a profound contemplation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It stars 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, Franco and Brie contribute a unique chemistry to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The narrative starts when Millie and Tim transition from the big city to the rural area for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, sure, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together transforms 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 two tumble into an underground cave. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence starts to affect the couple. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying of scares, weaving in moments of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and delivers them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and removed from his support system. He is terrified of the concept of completely losing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the type of challenges that arise in most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory never feels overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that single viewers have understood the narrative as a powerful case for staying single. Conversely, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could act as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply look at your partner and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu as of this moment.
