Here's a challenge for long-term couples who enjoy scary movies: Settle in with your partner and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit recently had its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but beneath Together lies a intense contemplation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The narrative begins when the couple move from the metropolis to the rural area for Millie’s job. A familiar plot device, sure, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence takes hold of the couple. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building of scares, interspersing elements of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something grotesque). Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and delivers them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is only the two lead actors, and they deftly portray countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and removed from his social circle. He dreads the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie avoids making Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Both characters confront the kind of problems that are inherent in long-term unions after ten years. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these anxieties of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor never feels hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
