Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Get comfortable with your significant other and view Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its online premiere via Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like typical biological terror, but inside Together exists a intense meditation about our choices in loving our partners.
An Introductory Film Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have been together for over ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the actors infuse a particular energy to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The narrative starts when Millie and Tim move from the metropolis to the country for her career. A familiar narrative setup, sure, but that’s primarily where the conventions conclude. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity takes hold of the couple. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The whole movie is a methodically building horror experience, blending bits of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and presents them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He fears the concept of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together avoids making Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Both characters face the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they have affection for one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory does not come across as hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a powerful case for staying single. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could function as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your significant other and state, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu as of this moment.
