We present a dare for partners in committed relationships who are fans of scary movies: Settle in with your partner and view Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like conventional body horror, but within Together lies a profound contemplation about how we choose to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for a decade. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars contribute a special spark to their characters, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The plot starts when Millie and Tim transition from the metropolis to the country for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the tropes conclude. Together transforms 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 rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the duo. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a slow burn of scares, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) body horror, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). The director orchestrates these parts seamlessly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He fears the notion of completely losing his individual identity in another person. This fear is amplified by the fact he can’t drive and relies on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Both characters grapple with the kind of problems that arise in long-term unions over a long period. Fundamentally, they continue to care for one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that single viewers have understood the narrative as a strong argument for staying single. On the other hand, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could function as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply turn to your partner and say, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can experience today.
Together is streaming on Hulu at present.
