Here's a test for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your significant other and view Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but within Together resides a intense meditation about our choices in loving each other.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, the two stars contribute a unique chemistry to their characters, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story commences when the couple relocate from the big city to the countryside for her career. A commonly used story element, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the couple. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a slow burn of scares, blending moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and presents them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is only the two lead actors, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and distant from his network of friends. He is terrified of the concept of totally forfeiting his individual identity in his partner. This fear is amplified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie face the sort of issues that arise in long-term unions over a long period. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a compelling reason for staying single. On the other hand, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform now.
