Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it could look like standard body horror, but within Together exists a profound meditation about how we choose to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together is the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have stayed together for a decade. Having wed in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The narrative commences when Millie and Tim relocate from the big city to the countryside for professional reasons. A familiar story element, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim discover an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the pair. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying fright fest, interspersing elements of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes amidst something grotesque). The director orchestrates these parts seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is only the two lead actors, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is waning due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He dreads the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting one partner or the other the obvious villain.
The couple confront the kind of problems that come with most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism avoids being hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a strong argument for staying single. On the other hand, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the finale inspire anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply look at your partner and state, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can experience at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform now.
