We present a dare for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. This critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its online premiere on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like conventional body horror, but within Together exists a profound examination about our choices in loving each other.
A Debut Feature Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors infuse a special spark to their characters, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The story commences when Millie and Tim relocate from the metropolis to the country for professional reasons. A commonly used plot device, sure, but that’s largely where the tropes end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists discover an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity takes hold of the duo. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying horror experience, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and removed from his social circle. He dreads the notion of completely losing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie never makes either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that arise in most partnerships a decade in. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these anxieties of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory does not come across as hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. On the other hand, some couples having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your other half and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu now.
