Here's a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it may seem like typical physical horror, but beneath Together resides a intense contemplation about how we choose to love our partners.
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 a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have remained a couple for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars infuse a particular energy to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The narrative commences when Tim and Millie relocate from the big city to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used story element, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the cliches cease. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the two tumble into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity takes hold of the couple. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building fright fest, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and distant from his social circle. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie never makes either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie grapple with the sort of issues that are inherent in long-term unions after ten years. At their core, they continue to care for each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of codependency and fully committing to another person, the symbolism avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights serve the other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a strong argument for staying single. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could function as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can experience right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
