Consider this a test for partners in committed relationships who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your loved one and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on Hulu. On the surface, it could look like conventional biological terror, but within Together lies a intense contemplation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The narrative commences when Millie and Tim relocate from the metropolis to the countryside for her career. A familiar plot device, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their country house, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim fall into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity begins influencing the duo. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building horror experience, weaving in moments of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). The director weaves these elements together neatly and delivers them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and far away from his social circle. He dreads the concept of completely losing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie never makes either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that are inherent in any relationship 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 beneath it all, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the symbolism avoids being clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion sow anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your other half and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can embark on right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu as of this moment.
