Here's a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Sit down with your significant other and view Together. The independent film success of 2025 has now made its streaming debut on Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like conventional body horror, but inside Together lies a intense contemplation about our choices in loving our partners.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the actors infuse a particular energy to their characters, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The plot begins when the couple relocate from the big city to the countryside for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s largely where the cliches cease. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their new home, a storm hits, and the two discover an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity starts to affect the couple. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building of scares, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and wraps them up in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his network of friends. He fears the notion of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie refrains from painting one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie grapple with the sort of issues that arise in any relationship after ten years. At their core, they still love each other. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these fears of excessive reliance and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism never feels hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a strong argument for staying single. Conversely, some couples experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can embark on today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
