Here's a test for partners in committed relationships who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your significant other and view Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like conventional body horror, but within Together exists a intense contemplation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a particular energy to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The plot starts when the couple move from the urban environment to the country for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the tropes conclude. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and the protagonists tumble into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence takes hold of the couple. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The whole movie is a slow burn fright fest, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). The director orchestrates these parts neatly and presents them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and distant from his social circle. He dreads the idea of completely losing his sense of self in another person. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the kind of problems that come with most partnerships a decade in. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, certain partners having disagreements found that the film actually helped them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion plant anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and utter, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can experience at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform now.
