We present a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Sit down with your significant other and view Together. The 2025 indie hit recently had its streaming debut on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like typical physical horror, but beneath Together exists a deep examination about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for over ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a unique chemistry to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot commences when Millie and Tim move from the big city to the rural area for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical story element, sure, but that’s primarily where the conventions cease. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists fall into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity begins influencing the couple. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a slow burn of scares, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, gross (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something horrific). The director skillfully blends these components neatly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He dreads the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is amplified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie grapple with the sort of issues that come with any relationship after ten years. At their core, they continue to care for each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to another person, the metaphor avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could act as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale sow anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can embark on today.
Together is streaming on Hulu at present.
