We present a challenge for partners in committed relationships who enjoy scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and view Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut on Hulu. On the surface, it could look like conventional physical horror, but beneath Together resides a intense contemplation about how we choose to love each other.
A Debut Feature Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have been together for over ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars contribute a special spark to their characters, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The narrative commences when Tim and Millie relocate from the big city to the rural area for professional reasons. A familiar plot device, sure, but that’s primarily where the conventions end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists fall into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the duo. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a slow burn of scares, interspersing bits of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and distant from his support system. He fears the idea of completely losing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is amplified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he never makes Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
The couple face the type of challenges that arise in long-term unions after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as clumsy or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your other half and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can undertake right now.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
