Consider this a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your significant other and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it may seem like standard body horror, but beneath Together exists a intense contemplation about how we choose to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars contribute a special spark to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when Millie and Tim move from the metropolis to the rural area for Millie’s job. A familiar narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the tropes 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.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The complete narrative is a slow burn of scares, weaving in elements of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He fears the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is intensified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together never makes either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie confront the sort of issues that come with most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these concerns of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory does not come across as overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could function as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your other half and utter, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can experience today.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
