Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate the horror genre: Settle in with your loved one and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut on Hulu. On the surface, it might appear like standard physical horror, but beneath Together lies a profound meditation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker 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 remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their characters, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The plot commences when Millie and Tim transition from the metropolis to the countryside for her career. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, admittedly, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and the protagonists tumble into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a strange force takes hold of the pair. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn fright fest, interspersing bits of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes during something grotesque). Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and far away from his social circle. He dreads the idea of totally forfeiting his sense of self in his partner. This fear is amplified by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he never makes Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the kind of problems that come with most partnerships after ten years. Deep down, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these concerns of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could function as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the ending sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your partner and state, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can embark on right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
