We present a dare for partners in committed relationships who are fans of scary movies: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its launch on a streaming platform via Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like typical body horror, but beneath Together lies a deep contemplation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, partners that have stayed together for over ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the actors bring a particular energy to their characters, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The narrative starts when Millie and Tim relocate from the metropolis to the rural area for her career. A familiar story element, of course, but that’s largely where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the protagonists tumble into an underground cave. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the pair. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building of scares, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). The director orchestrates these parts neatly and delivers them in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and removed from his social circle. He is terrified of the idea of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie avoids making Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Both characters grapple with the sort of issues that arise in any relationship after ten years. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory avoids being hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a strong argument for remaining unattached. On the other hand, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could act as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale sow anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply look at your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can embark on today.
Together is streaming on Hulu at present.
