Consider this a challenge for long-term couples who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its online premiere on Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like standard physical horror, but inside Together resides a profound meditation about our choices in loving one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their characters, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The narrative starts when the couple transition from the urban environment to the rural area for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, of course, but that’s mostly where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their country house, a storm hits, and the protagonists fall into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence starts to affect the couple. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past simple connection.
The complete narrative is a methodically building horror experience, weaving in elements of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and removed from his social circle. He fears the idea of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is intensified by the reality he can’t drive and needs Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision is that he avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that are inherent in most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they still love one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism avoids being overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have seen the movie as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could act as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu at present.
