Here's a test for long-term couples who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your loved one and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it could look like typical biological terror, but within Together exists a intense meditation about how we choose to love one another.
An Introductory Film Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have been together for ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a unique chemistry to their roles, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The plot starts when the couple move from the urban environment to the rural area for professional reasons. A familiar narrative setup, of course, but that’s primarily where the cliches conclude. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their new home, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim discover an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a strange force takes hold of the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past simple connection.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying fright fest, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes amidst something disturbing). The director skillfully blends these components seamlessly and presents them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and removed from his network of friends. He is terrified of the notion of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is intensified by the fact he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie never makes Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Both characters face the sort of issues that arise in any relationship a decade in. At their core, they have affection for one another. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these fears of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a strong argument for staying single. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could function as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your partner and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can embark on today.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu at present.
