Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who enjoy scary movies: Settle in with your loved one and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. At first glance, it might appear like typical physical horror, but within Together lies a profound contemplation about how we choose to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a unique chemistry to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The story begins when the couple relocate from the big city to the rural area for her career. A familiar plot device, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the two discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity begins influencing the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying horror experience, weaving in moments of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and presents them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and removed from his social circle. He dreads the concept of completely losing his sense of self in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie never makes either of his characters the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that arise in most partnerships over a long period. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for staying single. On the other hand, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could act as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your significant other and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can undertake right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu as of this moment.
