Consider this a test for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your partner and view Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like standard body horror, but within Together lies a deep examination about the ways we decide to love each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the actors infuse a special spark to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The narrative begins when the couple relocate from the urban environment to the country for her career. A somewhat stereotypical story element, of course, but that’s primarily where the conventions end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their new home, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying fright fest, interspersing elements of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is only the two lead actors, and they deftly portray countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and removed from his network of friends. He dreads the concept of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he can’t drive and relies on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie never makes either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the kind of problems that come with most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these concerns of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory avoids being clumsy or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, 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 seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your partner and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can embark on right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu at present.
