Here's a challenge for partners in committed relationships who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like typical body horror, but beneath Together lies a intense contemplation about how we choose to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for over ten years. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their characters, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The narrative commences when Millie and Tim move from the big city to the countryside for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s mostly where the tropes cease. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim fall into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a strange force begins influencing the couple. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The entire film is a methodically building of scares, blending moments of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and removed from his social circle. He dreads the concept of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie refrains from painting either of his characters the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie face the sort of issues that are inherent in any relationship over a long period. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these fears of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could act as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience today.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
