Here's a challenge for partners in committed relationships who enjoy the horror genre: Get comfortable with your partner and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like conventional physical horror, but inside Together resides a intense examination about the ways we decide to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for a decade. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a special spark to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The story commences when the couple transition from the big city to the country for Millie’s job. A familiar story element, sure, but that’s largely where the cliches end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists tumble into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence begins influencing the duo. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The entire film is a methodically building fright fest, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes amidst something horrific). The director weaves these elements together expertly and delivers them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and removed from his social circle. He dreads the concept of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the sort of issues that come with any relationship over a long period. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor never feels hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for staying single. Meanwhile, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could function as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion inspire 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 other half and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
