Consider this a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your loved one and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it could look like typical body horror, but inside Together exists a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for over ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their characters, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The plot starts when the couple transition from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, sure, but that’s largely where the tropes conclude. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two discover an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity begins influencing the pair. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The entire film is a methodically building of scares, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and delivers them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and removed from his network of friends. He dreads the notion of completely losing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he can’t drive and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie never makes Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that are inherent in any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of codependency and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a powerful case for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners 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 revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your partner and state, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
