Consider this a test for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like conventional biological terror, but within Together lies a profound contemplation about how we choose to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their roles, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The story begins when the couple move from the urban environment to the country for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the tropes cease. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their new home, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a strange force starts to affect the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying horror experience, interspersing elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is amplified by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
The couple grapple with the type of challenges that come with long-term unions a decade in. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism never feels hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama work together in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a powerful case for staying single. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending plant anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu now.
