Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit recently had its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like typical body horror, but within Together exists a intense contemplation about how we choose to love one another.
A Debut Feature Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have been together for over ten years. Married in reality in 2017, the actors bring a unique chemistry to their roles, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when the couple relocate from the big city to the countryside for professional reasons. A familiar narrative setup, sure, but that’s primarily where the tropes cease. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the two discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence starts to affect the duo. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building of scares, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, gross (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes during something horrific). Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and removed from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie face the kind of problems that arise in long-term unions after ten years. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these fears of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory avoids being hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could function as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the ending plant anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your partner and say, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can experience at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu as of this moment.
