Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your loved one and watch Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it might appear like typical biological terror, but within Together resides a deep contemplation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when Millie and Tim move from the metropolis to the rural area for her career. A commonly used plot device, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the conventions end. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence starts to affect the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying fright fest, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). The director weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers 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 hesitance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the notion of totally forfeiting his individual identity in another person. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie confront the type of challenges that are inherent in any relationship after ten years. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these anxieties of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory never feels hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could act as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply look at your partner and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can embark on today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform at present.
