We present a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate scary movies: Get comfortable with your loved one and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like typical body horror, but beneath Together resides a deep contemplation about how we choose to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for over ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot starts when Tim and Millie relocate from the urban environment to the country for her career. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the conventions end. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their country house, a storm hits, and the protagonists tumble into an underground cave. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The complete narrative is a slow burn fright fest, weaving in moments of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and wraps them up in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the notion of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the definite antagonist.
The couple face the kind of problems that are inherent in most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they still love each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these concerns of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the allegory never feels hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama work together in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Conversely, a few pairs who were in conflict 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 view relationships. Will the conclusion sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
