Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it may seem like standard body horror, but inside Together exists a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together is the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have remained a couple for ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the two stars contribute a unique chemistry to their roles, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative begins when Millie and Tim move from the metropolis to the countryside for Millie’s job. A familiar narrative setup, of course, but that’s mostly where the tropes end. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the duo. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying fright fest, weaving in bits of fever-dream horrors, gross (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). The director orchestrates these parts neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his social circle. He dreads the concept of completely losing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is intensified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple confront 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 share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of codependency and fully committing to another person, the metaphor avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a powerful case for staying single. On the other hand, some couples who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could act as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale sow 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 significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu now.
