Consider this a test for long-term couples who are fans of scary movies: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. On the surface, it could look like typical body horror, but within Together resides a profound examination about our choices in loving our partners.
A Debut Feature Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have been together for a decade. Having wed in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a special spark to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The plot commences when Millie and Tim relocate from the big city to the country for professional reasons. A commonly used plot device, of course, but that’s mostly where the cliches conclude. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their country house, a storm hits, and the two discover an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity takes hold of the pair. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying fright fest, interspersing elements of dreamlike terrors, gross (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). The director weaves these elements together expertly and presents them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and distant from his support system. He dreads the notion of completely losing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters grapple with the type of challenges that arise in any relationship a decade in. Deep down, they continue to care for each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these fears of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism avoids being overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could function as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your other half and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
