Here's a dare for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Settle in with your partner and view Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard body horror, but within Together exists a deep meditation about our choices in loving one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together is the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The narrative commences when the couple transition from the urban environment to the rural area for professional reasons. A familiar plot device, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their new home, a storm hits, and the two tumble into an underground cave. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence takes hold of the pair. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The whole movie is a slow burn horror experience, interspersing moments of fever-dream horrors, gross (but never too gross) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and wraps them up in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and distant from his support system. He fears the idea of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in another person. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he can’t drive and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple confront the sort of issues that arise in most partnerships over a long period. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a powerful case for staying single. On the other hand, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale inspire 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’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can undertake today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform now.
