Consider this a challenge for long-term couples who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your loved one and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit recently had its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it could look like conventional biological terror, but beneath Together resides a intense meditation about our choices in loving our partners.
An Introductory Film Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for over ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the two stars contribute a unique chemistry to their roles, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The narrative starts when Tim and Millie move from the urban environment to the countryside for professional reasons. A commonly used story element, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the two tumble into an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity begins influencing the pair. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a slow burn fright fest, interspersing moments of fever-dream horrors, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something disturbing). The director orchestrates these parts seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and removed from his network of friends. He dreads the concept of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple confront the type of challenges that arise in most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these concerns of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. On the other hand, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply look at your partner and state, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can experience right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu now.
