Here's a test for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its streaming debut on Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like standard biological terror, but inside Together resides a intense meditation about our choices in loving one another.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have been together for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a special spark to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when the couple move from the big city to the countryside for her career. A familiar plot device, sure, but that’s largely where the tropes conclude. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their new home, a storm hits, and the two tumble into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a strange force takes hold of the duo. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying fright fest, blending elements of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes during something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and removed from his network of friends. He dreads the idea of totally forfeiting his sense of self in another person. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie never makes one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie confront the type of challenges that arise in most partnerships over a long period. Fundamentally, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism does not come across as clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a strong argument for staying single. On the other hand, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could function as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your other half and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can undertake right now.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu now.
