We present a test for long-term couples who are fans of scary movies: Get comfortable with your significant other and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit recently had its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it might appear like standard body horror, but beneath Together exists a deep meditation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for a decade. Having wed in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a unique chemistry to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The narrative begins when Tim and Millie relocate from the metropolis to the country for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical story element, admittedly, but that’s largely where the cliches end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the two tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity takes hold of the couple. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn of scares, interspersing bits of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and presents them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and far away from his network of friends. He fears the idea of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he can’t drive and needs Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie confront the type of challenges that come with long-term unions after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor avoids being hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could act as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the finale plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply look at your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can experience today.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu at present.
