We present a dare for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on the Hulu service. On the surface, it could look like standard physical horror, but beneath Together lies a profound meditation about our choices in loving each other.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a unique chemistry to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim move from the metropolis to the country for Millie’s job. A commonly used story element, sure, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the two discover an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a strange force begins influencing the duo. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The whole movie is a slow burn of scares, blending bits of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and delivers them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they masterfully render countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and removed from his network of friends. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his sense of self in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he can’t drive and needs Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships over a long period. Fundamentally, they continue to care for one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these concerns of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory avoids being hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that single viewers have understood the narrative as a strong argument for remaining unattached. On the other hand, some couples having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the finale sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu now.
