We present a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy scary movies: Get comfortable with your partner and view Together. This 2025 indie hit recently had its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. On the surface, it could look like standard biological terror, but beneath Together lies a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together is the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars contribute a unique chemistry to their characters, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The story starts when Tim and Millie relocate from the urban environment to the rural area for professional reasons. A familiar story element, of course, but that’s mostly where the conventions end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a strange force begins influencing the duo. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building of scares, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes during something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and presents them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is solely the two lead actors, 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 subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and distant from his social circle. He dreads the concept of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision is that he refrains from painting Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie confront the sort of issues that arise in long-term unions after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these fears of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights serve the other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a strong argument for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could act as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the finale inspire anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your other half and state, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform now.
