We present a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your significant other and stream Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like conventional body horror, but beneath Together lies a intense examination about how we choose to love each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a unique chemistry to their roles, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The story commences when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, sure, but that’s largely where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying fright fest, interspersing elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. 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 senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and removed from his social circle. He dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in another person. This fear is intensified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together never makes Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
The couple confront the sort of issues that come with any relationship after ten years. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as clumsy or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can undertake today.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu now.
