Consider this a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Settle in with your loved one and view Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but beneath Together lies a profound meditation about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars infuse a special spark to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The plot commences when Millie and Tim transition from the urban environment to the country for professional reasons. A familiar plot device, of course, but that’s largely where the tropes cease. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their new home, a storm hits, and the protagonists tumble into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity takes hold of the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying fright fest, interspersing elements of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and delivers them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation 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 feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and removed from his support system. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is amplified by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting one partner or the other the obvious villain.
The couple face the kind of problems that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights serve the other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have interpreted the film as a strong argument for staying single. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could function as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your partner and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can embark on today.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
