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 online premiere via Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like typical physical horror, but beneath Together lies a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their characters, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when the couple relocate from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A familiar story element, admittedly, but that’s largely where the cliches conclude. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the two discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The complete narrative is a slow burn fright fest, interspersing bits of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and delivers them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and distant from his social circle. He is terrified of the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is amplified by the reality he can’t drive and relies on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that arise in any relationship over a long period. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and fully committing to another person, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that single viewers have interpreted the film as a powerful case for staying single. On the other hand, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending sow anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your other half and say, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can undertake today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu now.
