Consider this a test for partners in committed relationships who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your significant other and view Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere via Hulu. On the surface, it may seem like conventional biological terror, but beneath Together resides a deep meditation about how we choose to love each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the actors contribute a particular energy to their roles, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The narrative starts when Tim and Millie transition from the big city to the country for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the cliches cease. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim discover an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the pair. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying horror experience, weaving in moments of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and far away from his social circle. He dreads the concept of completely losing his individual identity in his partner. This fear is amplified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together never makes Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
The couple confront the kind of problems that arise in most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor never feels hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could act as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu now.
