Here's a test for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Sit down with your partner and view Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like conventional physical horror, but within Together resides a intense meditation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their characters, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The plot starts when Tim and Millie transition from the urban environment to the country for professional reasons. A familiar plot device, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the conventions end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the two tumble into an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a strange force starts to affect the pair. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn of scares, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and presents them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and distant from his network of friends. He is terrified of the notion of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is amplified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together avoids making one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie confront the kind of problems that come with most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these concerns of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale inspire anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply look at your other half and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can experience at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform at present.
