Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy horror films: Sit down with your significant other and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. On the surface, it may seem like conventional biological terror, but inside Together resides a profound examination about the ways we decide to love one another.
A Debut Feature Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for over ten years. Having wed in reality in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The plot starts when the couple transition from the big city to the rural area for professional reasons. A commonly used plot device, admittedly, but that’s largely where the cliches end. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their country house, a storm hits, and the protagonists tumble into an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence takes hold of the pair. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building of scares, weaving in elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and removed from his network of friends. He fears the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision is that he avoids making one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie grapple with the kind of problems that are inherent in any relationship a decade in. Deep down, they continue to care for each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the allegory does not come across as clumsy or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a powerful case for staying single. Meanwhile, some couples who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending sow anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your other half and state, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience right now.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu at present.
