We present a test for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your loved one and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit recently had its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like standard biological terror, but beneath Together lies a intense meditation about our choices in loving each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a special spark to their characters, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The plot commences when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used story element, sure, but that’s primarily where the cliches end. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the protagonists discover an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying horror experience, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes amidst something horrific). Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and distant from his support system. He is terrified of the concept of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is intensified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie never makes Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Both characters confront the kind of problems that come with most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the allegory does not come across as hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a compelling reason for staying single. On the other hand, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could function as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your other half and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
