Consider this a dare for long-term couples who appreciate scary movies: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. On the surface, it could look like typical body horror, but beneath Together lies a profound examination about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Debut Feature Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have been together for over ten years. Married in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The story begins when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A familiar plot device, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a strange force starts to affect the couple. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying horror experience, weaving in elements of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something horrific). Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and presents them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and far away from his social circle. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his individual identity in his partner. This fear is intensified by the reality he can’t drive and needs Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in Together avoids making one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the kind of problems that come with long-term unions after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these anxieties of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama work together symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that single viewers have seen the movie as a strong argument for staying single. Conversely, some couples experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your other half and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu now.
