We present a dare for long-term couples who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your partner and view Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like conventional physical horror, but inside Together exists a profound examination about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The narrative begins when Millie and Tim relocate from the big city to the country for her career. A familiar narrative setup, sure, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim fall into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity takes hold of the couple. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing elements of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). The director orchestrates these parts neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and far away from his network of friends. He is terrified of the concept of completely losing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that arise in any relationship a decade in. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could function as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply look at your other half and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu at present.
