Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your significant other and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like typical body horror, but inside Together lies a profound examination about our choices in loving each other.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a unique chemistry to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The plot starts when the couple transition from the metropolis to the country for Millie’s job. A familiar plot device, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim tumble into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence takes hold of the couple. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying of scares, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his network of friends. He fears the concept of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie avoids making Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Both characters face the sort of issues that arise in long-term unions a decade in. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable 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 another person, the symbolism does not come across as clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama work together in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion plant anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your other half and say, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu now.
