Here's a test for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut via Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like typical body horror, but beneath Together resides a intense contemplation about how we choose to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for a decade. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars contribute a special spark to their characters, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The narrative begins when Millie and Tim transition from the big city to the countryside for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical story element, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the tropes end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim fall into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence takes hold of the couple. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The entire film is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing elements of fever-dream horrors, gross (but never too gross) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something horrific). Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and wraps them up in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is waning due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and distant from his network of friends. He fears the idea of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he avoids making one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
The couple grapple with the sort of issues that arise in most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to another person, the allegory never feels hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a strong argument for remaining unattached. On the other hand, some couples who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply look at your significant other and utter, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can experience today.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu now.
