We present a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit recently had its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like typical physical horror, but beneath Together exists a deep contemplation about our choices in loving our partners.
An Introductory Film Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a particular energy to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The narrative begins when Tim and Millie relocate from the big city to the countryside for professional reasons. A commonly used story element, admittedly, but that’s largely where the tropes cease. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their new home, a storm hits, and the protagonists tumble into an underground cave. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force begins influencing the duo. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building of scares, weaving in bits of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and distant from his social circle. He is terrified of the concept of completely losing his sense of self in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he can’t drive and needs Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision in Together avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
The couple grapple with the sort of issues that arise in long-term unions over a long period. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that single viewers have seen the movie as a strong argument for staying single. Conversely, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply look at your significant other and state, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform now.
