Here's a challenge for partners in committed relationships who are fans of scary movies: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like conventional biological terror, but beneath Together exists a intense meditation about how we choose to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together represents the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have been together for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars infuse a particular energy to their characters, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The narrative starts when Millie and Tim transition from the metropolis to the country for her career. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and the protagonists fall into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying of scares, blending moments of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his social circle. He dreads the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he can’t drive and needs Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together avoids making one partner or the other the obvious villain.
The couple confront the sort of issues that come with any relationship a decade in. Deep down, they have affection for one another. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these concerns of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the allegory does not come across as hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that single viewers have interpreted the film as a powerful case for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending plant anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform now.
