We present a test for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it might appear like standard physical horror, but beneath Together lies a profound examination about our choices in loving our partners.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have been together for ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The narrative commences when Millie and Tim transition from the big city to the rural area for her career. A familiar story element, of course, but that’s largely where the cliches conclude. Together becomes 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 storm hits, and the two fall into an underground cave. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity takes hold of the duo. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying of scares, interspersing moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) body horror, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and removed from his network of friends. He fears the concept of completely losing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in Together avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple confront the kind of problems that come with any relationship over a long period. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these concerns of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor never feels overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion plant anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your partner and utter, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can experience at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu at present.
