Consider this a dare for long-term couples who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your loved one and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its streaming debut via Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like typical physical horror, but beneath Together exists a deep contemplation about the ways we decide to love one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars contribute a particular energy to their characters, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative commences when the couple move from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used story element, admittedly, but that’s largely where the cliches conclude. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their country house, a storm hits, and the two tumble into an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity begins influencing the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying of scares, interspersing moments of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and delivers them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He dreads the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is intensified by the fact he can’t drive and relies on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
Both characters grapple with the type of challenges that are inherent in long-term unions a decade in. Deep down, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these concerns of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to another person, the allegory avoids being overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that single viewers have understood the narrative as a powerful case for staying single. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could function as a telling indicator 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”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can undertake right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu now.
