Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Get comfortable with your loved one and view Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on the Hulu service. On the surface, it could look like conventional body horror, but inside Together lies a profound examination about the ways we decide to love each other.
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 a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for ten years. Married in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a particular energy to their roles, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The narrative commences when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the countryside for professional reasons. A commonly used story element, of course, but that’s mostly where the cliches cease. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their new home, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity begins influencing the couple. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The whole movie is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but never too gross) physical transformations, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and wraps them up in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and removed from his support system. He dreads the idea of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together refrains from painting Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the sort of issues that arise in most partnerships after ten years. At their core, 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 current of uncertainty about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these concerns of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to another person, the symbolism avoids being hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a compelling reason for staying single. Meanwhile, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion sow anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform now.
