Consider this a dare for long-term couples who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like conventional body horror, but within Together resides a profound examination about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for over ten years. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The narrative commences when the couple move from the urban environment to the country for Millie’s job. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s largely where the tropes conclude. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two tumble into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence takes hold of the duo. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building of scares, blending moments of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). The director weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is only the two lead actors, and they masterfully render countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He fears the idea of completely losing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that are inherent in long-term unions after ten years. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that single viewers have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could function as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply look at your partner and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
