Consider this a test for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Settle in with your significant other and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it may seem like conventional physical horror, but within Together exists a intense meditation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for over ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the actors contribute a unique chemistry to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The plot commences when the couple move from the metropolis to the rural area for Millie’s job. A familiar story element, of course, but that’s mostly where the tropes conclude. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their new home, a storm hits, and the two tumble into an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the pair. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying of scares, interspersing elements of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes amidst something horrific). Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly 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 manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his floundering music career gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and distant from his network of friends. He fears the notion of completely losing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together avoids making one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the sort of issues that arise in long-term unions over a long period. At their core, they continue to care for each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor never feels hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have interpreted the film as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your significant other and utter, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform at present.
