We present a test for long-term couples who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your loved one and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on the Hulu service. On the surface, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but beneath Together lies a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for a decade. Married in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a particular energy to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The narrative starts when the couple transition from the metropolis to the countryside for her career. A somewhat stereotypical story element, of course, but that’s mostly where the conventions conclude. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the pair. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying horror experience, interspersing bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and presents them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He is terrified of the notion of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that are inherent in any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the metaphor never feels overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the ending sow anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your other half and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform at present.
