We present a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. At first glance, it may seem like standard biological terror, but beneath Together exists a intense meditation about how we choose to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story commences when Millie and Tim relocate from the big city to the country for Millie’s job. A commonly used plot device, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the tropes conclude. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim tumble into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a strange force begins influencing the pair. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying horror experience, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and distant from his support system. He is terrified of the concept of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie grapple with the sort of issues that arise in long-term unions after ten years. Deep down, they continue to care for each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these concerns of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism avoids being hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a powerful case for remaining unattached. On the other hand, some couples who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending inspire anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply look at your other half and say, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
