Consider this a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Settle in with your loved one and view Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like conventional biological terror, but beneath Together lies a intense contemplation about our choices in loving each other.
An Introductory Film Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for over ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The narrative commences when Millie and Tim transition from the big city to the countryside for Millie’s job. A familiar narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the tropes conclude. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists fall into an underground cave. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying fright fest, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, gross (but never too gross) physical transformations, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his network of friends. He fears the concept of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that arise in most partnerships after ten years. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements 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 final act, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a powerful case for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could function as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your partner and say, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can undertake right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform at present.
