Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate scary movies: Get comfortable with your loved one and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit recently had its online premiere via Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like typical body horror, but within Together resides a profound examination about our choices in loving our partners.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars infuse a unique chemistry to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot starts when the couple transition from the metropolis to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the conventions conclude. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim discover an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence takes hold of the pair. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The entire film is a slow burn of scares, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something disturbing). The director skillfully blends these components neatly and delivers them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is only the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the concept of completely losing his sense of self in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in Together never makes one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that come with long-term unions over a long period. At their core, they have affection for one another. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these concerns of codependency and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama work together symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could function as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the ending 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 look at your other half and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can undertake right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
