Here's a challenge for partners in committed relationships who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your significant other and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its streaming debut on Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like typical biological terror, but within Together exists a deep meditation about how we choose to love each other.
An Introductory Film Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The narrative commences when Tim and Millie transition from the metropolis to the countryside for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical story element, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the tropes cease. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and the protagonists tumble into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a strange force starts to affect the couple. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying horror experience, interspersing moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and delivers them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and removed from his support system. He is terrified of the notion of completely losing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is intensified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision is that he avoids making one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Both characters confront the type of challenges that come with any relationship a decade in. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these concerns of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. It has been said that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for staying single. On the other hand, certain partners having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply look at your other half and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can undertake today.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu at present.
