Consider this a dare for long-term couples who appreciate scary movies: Get comfortable with your significant other and view Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it might appear like typical physical horror, but inside Together resides a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for director 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 stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim relocate from the big city to the countryside for her career. A familiar story element, admittedly, but that’s largely where the tropes conclude. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two discover an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a strange force starts to affect the couple. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a slow burn fright fest, interspersing elements of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). The director skillfully blends these components seamlessly and presents them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and distant from his support system. He is terrified of the concept of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is amplified by the reality he can’t drive and needs Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that come with most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they continue to care for one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and fully committing to another person, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the finale plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your significant other and say, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu now.
