We present a test for long-term couples who enjoy scary movies: Settle in with your significant other and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its streaming debut via Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like typical body horror, but inside Together resides a deep examination about the ways we decide to love each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for over ten years. Married in reality in 2017, the actors contribute a particular energy to their characters, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The narrative starts when Tim and Millie transition from the urban environment to the countryside for Millie’s job. A familiar narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the tropes cease. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the protagonists fall into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity takes hold of the duo. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn fright fest, interspersing elements of fever-dream horrors, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is waning due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and removed from his network of friends. He is terrified of the concept of totally forfeiting his individual identity in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the obvious villain.
The couple face the type of challenges that arise in long-term unions after ten years. Fundamentally, they still love each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these concerns of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism avoids being hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that single viewers have understood the narrative as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could function as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and say, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu now.
