Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who are fans of horror films: Sit down with your significant other and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but within Together resides a intense contemplation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together is the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for over ten years. Married in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a unique chemistry to their characters, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The plot commences when the couple relocate from the urban environment to the country for her career. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the tropes conclude. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the two tumble into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity starts to affect the duo. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying fright fest, interspersing moments of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and presents them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the notion of completely losing his sense of self in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and needs Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie never makes one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
The couple grapple with the kind of problems that come with long-term unions after ten years. Fundamentally, they continue to care for one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory does not come across as hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Conversely, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale inspire anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an test you can undertake right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu as of this moment.
