Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its streaming debut via Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like typical biological terror, but inside Together lies a profound contemplation about our choices in loving each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for a decade. Having wed in real life in 2017, the actors infuse a special spark to their characters, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The plot begins when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the countryside for her career. A commonly used story element, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions conclude. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim tumble into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the duo. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes amidst something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and far away from his network of friends. He dreads the notion of completely losing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision is that he avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that come with most partnerships over a long period. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these fears of excessive reliance and fully committing to another person, the metaphor does not come across as clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a powerful case for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the finale plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your partner and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can undertake today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu as of this moment.
