Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who enjoy the horror genre: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit recently had its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it could look like standard body horror, but beneath Together resides a profound meditation about the ways we decide to love one another.
An Introductory Film Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The narrative starts when Millie and Tim transition from the big city to the rural area for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s primarily where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their country house, a storm hits, and the two discover an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the pair. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building fright fest, blending elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes during something disturbing). Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and delivers them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is only the two lead actors, and they deftly portray countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his support system. He dreads the concept of totally forfeiting his individual identity in another person. This fear is intensified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he avoids making Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Both characters grapple with the type of challenges that are inherent in most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these concerns of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism never feels hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, some couples experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your other half and say, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform at present.
