We present a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your significant other and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere via Hulu. At first glance, it could look like typical physical horror, but inside Together resides a intense contemplation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for over ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a special spark to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The plot begins when the couple move from the big city to the country for professional reasons. A commonly used story element, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the couple. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn of scares, interspersing moments of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and delivers them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is only the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than 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 distant from his support system. He is terrified of the concept of completely losing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he refrains from painting one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Both characters face the type of challenges that are inherent in long-term unions a decade in. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these fears of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism never feels overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a compelling reason for staying single. Meanwhile, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion inspire anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your significant other and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can experience today.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu at present.
