Consider this a dare for long-term couples who are fans of horror films: Get comfortable with your significant other and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like conventional physical horror, but within Together lies a intense contemplation about how we choose to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a particular energy to their characters, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The story commences when the couple move from the big city to the rural area for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, sure, but that’s primarily where the tropes conclude. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the two fall into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence takes hold of the pair. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying of scares, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, gross (but tastefully done) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and delivers them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is only the two lead actors, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his social circle. He dreads the concept of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie refrains from painting either of his characters the obvious villain.
Both characters face the type of challenges that are inherent in any relationship over a long period. At their core, they still love one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these fears of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor never feels overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could function as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the finale plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your partner and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can experience at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu now.
