We present a test for partners in committed relationships who are fans of scary movies: Settle in with your loved one and view Together. This 2025 indie hit recently had its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it may seem like typical physical horror, but inside Together lies a intense meditation about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the actors bring a unique chemistry to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The plot commences when Tim and Millie move from the big city to the country for her career. A somewhat stereotypical story element, sure, but that’s primarily where the cliches conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists fall into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity takes hold of the couple. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building horror experience, blending bits of fever-dream horrors, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his individual identity in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie refrains from painting either of his characters the definite antagonist.
The couple confront the kind of problems that arise in most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these concerns of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism avoids being hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could act as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply look at your other half and say, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu as of this moment.
