Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like typical biological terror, but inside Together resides a profound contemplation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together is the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a special spark to their roles, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot commences when the couple relocate from the big city to the rural area for professional reasons. A familiar plot device, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the conventions conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the protagonists tumble into an underground cave. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence begins influencing the pair. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The whole movie is a slow burn fright fest, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes during something grotesque). The director skillfully blends these components neatly and delivers them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the concept of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that are inherent in long-term unions over a long period. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these concerns of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor avoids being overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for staying single. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could function as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply look at your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform now.
