Consider this a test for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and watch Together. This independent film success of 2025 just made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like typical biological terror, but inside Together resides a profound meditation about how we choose to love one another.
A Debut Feature Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a particular energy to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot begins when the couple transition from the metropolis to the country for her career. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the conventions conclude. Together transforms 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 rural residence, a tempest descends, and the two discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the pair. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying horror experience, interspersing bits of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) body horror, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes amidst something horrific). Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and wraps them up in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is only the two lead actors, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and removed from his network of friends. He fears the concept of completely losing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he can’t drive and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Both characters grapple with the kind of problems that come with long-term unions after ten years. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism never feels hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a powerful case for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could act as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the ending sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply look at your other half and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu now.
