We present a challenge for partners in committed relationships who are fans of scary movies: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like conventional physical horror, but beneath Together lies a deep contemplation about the ways we decide to love each other.
An Introductory Film Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together is the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the two stars infuse a unique chemistry to their characters, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the country for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical story element, sure, but that’s primarily where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists fall into an underground cave. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a strange force takes hold of the duo. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying horror experience, weaving in bits of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and far away from his network of friends. He dreads the idea of completely losing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he can’t drive and relies on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple confront the sort of issues that come with long-term unions a decade in. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these fears of codependency and fully committing to another person, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for staying single. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your significant other and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can embark on today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
