Consider this a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Sit down with your loved one and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it may seem like typical physical horror, but beneath Together resides a deep meditation about how we choose to love one another.
A Debut Feature Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their characters, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The narrative starts when Millie and Tim transition from the metropolis to the countryside for professional reasons. A familiar plot device, admittedly, but that’s largely where the tropes end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the couple. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The entire film is a methodically building fright fest, blending elements of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something horrific). Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only the two lead actors, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and distant from his support system. He dreads the concept of totally forfeiting his individual identity in his partner. This fear is intensified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie grapple with the sort of issues that arise in any relationship a decade in. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism avoids being overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for staying single. Conversely, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the finale sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply turn to your significant other and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can experience at this very moment.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
