Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy horror films: Get comfortable with your partner and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like standard biological terror, but beneath Together resides a profound contemplation about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Debut Feature Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a special spark to their roles, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The narrative starts when Millie and Tim transition from the metropolis to the rural area for professional reasons. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s primarily where the tropes conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two tumble into an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past simple connection.
The entire film is a slow burn fright fest, blending elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). The director skillfully blends these components neatly and wraps them up in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and distant from his social circle. He is terrified of the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie never makes Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that come with any relationship a decade in. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They share moments of joy, offer support, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these anxieties of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, some couples experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could function as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your partner and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can undertake right now.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu now.
