Here's a challenge for long-term couples who enjoy scary movies: Get comfortable with your significant other and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but beneath Together resides a profound examination about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for a decade. Married in reality in 2017, the two stars contribute a unique chemistry to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative commences when Tim and Millie transition from the metropolis to the country for her career. A somewhat stereotypical story element, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their country house, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity begins influencing the pair. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in bits of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together expertly and delivers them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is waning due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and distant from his network of friends. He is terrified of the concept of totally forfeiting his individual identity in his partner. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the sort of issues that arise in long-term unions after ten years. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of codependency and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could function as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and say, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can embark on today.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
