Consider this a challenge for long-term couples who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie just made its online premiere on Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like typical physical horror, but inside Together exists a intense examination about how we choose to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the actors bring a unique chemistry to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The plot commences when the couple relocate from the metropolis to the country for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical story element, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the two discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the pair. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The entire film is a methodically building of scares, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes during something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and removed from his network of friends. He dreads the concept of totally forfeiting his individual identity in another person. This fear is amplified by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision is that he avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie confront the sort of issues that are inherent in any relationship over a long period. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these concerns of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the allegory never feels hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the ending plant anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply turn to your significant other and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can embark on today.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu now.
