Consider this a test for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Get comfortable with your loved one and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like typical biological terror, but within Together resides a deep meditation about our choices in loving one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together represents 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 stayed together for ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their characters, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The plot starts when Millie and Tim move from the big city to the countryside for professional reasons. A commonly used narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s largely where the cliches cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim discover an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn horror experience, interspersing elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). The director orchestrates these parts neatly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and distant from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of totally forfeiting his sense of self in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he can’t drive and relies on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Both characters confront the type of challenges that are inherent in any relationship over a long period. Fundamentally, they continue to care for one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these fears of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the allegory does not come across as hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights work together in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that single viewers have interpreted the film as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could act as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can undertake right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu as of this moment.
