Consider this a test for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Get comfortable with your loved one and view Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its streaming debut via Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like conventional body horror, but within Together exists a profound meditation about our choices in loving each other.
A Directorial Debut Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a unique chemistry to their characters, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The narrative commences when the couple move from the metropolis to the rural area for her career. A familiar narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their new home, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the duo. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying fright fest, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but never too gross) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes amidst something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his social circle. He dreads the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple confront the type of challenges that arise in any relationship after ten years. Fundamentally, they continue to care for one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these fears of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory never feels overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the ending sow anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply turn to your partner and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu now.
