We present a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate scary movies: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere via Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like typical physical horror, but beneath Together resides a profound meditation about our choices in loving each other.
A Debut Feature Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for a decade. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the two stars bring a special spark to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The story begins when the couple relocate from the urban environment to the country for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s primarily where the tropes cease. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and the protagonists discover an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity takes hold of the duo. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond simple connection.
The entire film is a slow burn fright fest, interspersing elements of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but never too gross) body horror, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes amidst something horrific). Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and distant from his support system. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
The couple confront the sort of issues that arise in most partnerships a decade in. Deep down, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these fears of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism avoids being hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could function as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion sow anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your significant other and utter, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can undertake today.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
