Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Sit down with your partner and view Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its online premiere via Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like typical biological terror, but inside Together exists a deep contemplation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for a decade. Having wed in reality in 2017, the two stars contribute a special spark to their characters, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The plot begins when Tim and Millie transition from the urban environment to the rural area for her career. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, of course, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their country house, a storm hits, and the two discover an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity begins influencing the couple. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying of scares, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and wraps them up in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He is terrified of the concept of totally forfeiting his sense of self in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he never makes Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the kind of problems that come with most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory does not come across as clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have understood the narrative as a powerful case for remaining unattached. On the other hand, some couples having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could act as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your partner and say, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu at present.
