Consider this a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your partner and view Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. At first glance, it could look like conventional biological terror, but beneath Together resides a deep examination about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors contribute a particular energy to their characters, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The plot starts when Millie and Tim transition from the big city to the countryside for her career. A familiar story element, admittedly, but that’s largely where the tropes conclude. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their country house, a storm hits, and the two discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence takes hold of the duo. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past simple connection.
The complete narrative is a methodically building of scares, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, gross (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). The director weaves these elements together neatly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He fears the notion of totally forfeiting his sense of self in his partner. This fear is amplified by the fact he can’t drive and relies on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie never makes one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie confront the kind of problems that are inherent in most partnerships over a long period. At their core, they still love each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. On the other hand, some couples experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply look at your partner and say, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can undertake right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
