Consider this a test for partners in committed relationships who appreciate the horror genre: Sit down with your loved one and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its online premiere via Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like conventional body horror, but within Together resides a intense examination about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for over ten years. Married in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when the couple relocate from the metropolis to the country for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical story element, of course, but that’s primarily where the tropes end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their country house, a storm hits, and the two fall into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a strange force begins influencing the duo. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying horror experience, weaving in bits of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes during something horrific). Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his network of friends. He dreads the concept of totally forfeiting his individual identity in Millie. This fear is intensified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and relies on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie avoids making either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie confront the sort of issues that are inherent in any relationship a decade in. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism never feels hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could act as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your other half and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience today.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu at present.
