Consider this a challenge for partners in committed relationships who enjoy scary movies: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it could look like standard biological terror, but within Together resides a profound examination about our choices in loving each other.
A Directorial Debut Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together represents the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for over ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the actors contribute a particular energy to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The story commences when Millie and Tim relocate from the big city to the countryside for her career. A commonly used plot device, sure, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim fall into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity takes hold of the duo. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying horror experience, interspersing elements of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). The director orchestrates these parts seamlessly and delivers them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and distant from his network of friends. He dreads the concept of totally forfeiting his sense of self in his partner. This fear is intensified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
The couple face the kind of problems that are inherent in long-term unions over a long period. At their core, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and fully committing to another person, the allegory does not come across as hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that single viewers have interpreted the film as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can embark on right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform at present.
