We present a challenge for partners in committed relationships who appreciate scary movies: Sit down with your loved one and view Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere on Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like typical biological terror, but beneath Together resides a deep contemplation about our choices in loving each other.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for over ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their characters, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The story commences when Millie and Tim relocate from the metropolis to the countryside for professional reasons. A familiar story element, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists fall into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence begins influencing the couple. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing bits of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). The director orchestrates these parts seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and removed from his support system. He dreads the idea of completely losing his individual identity in another person. This fear is intensified by the fact he can’t drive and needs Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the type of challenges that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of excessive reliance and fully committing to another person, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a powerful case for staying single. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply look at your partner and say, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can embark on today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu as of this moment.
