Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your loved one and view Together. This independent film success of 2025 has now made its online premiere via Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like conventional body horror, but within Together exists a intense contemplation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have stayed together for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars infuse a particular energy to their characters, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The plot starts when Tim and Millie relocate from the urban environment to the countryside for professional reasons. A familiar plot device, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the tropes cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists tumble into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the duo. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The complete narrative is a methodically building of scares, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something horrific). Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and presents them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they deftly portray countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He dreads the idea of totally forfeiting his sense of self in Millie. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together avoids making either of his characters the obvious villain.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they still love one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to another person, the metaphor does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in harmony.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a strong argument for remaining unattached. On the other hand, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could function as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply turn to your significant other and say, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu now.
