Here's a challenge for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your loved one and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit recently had its streaming debut via Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like conventional body horror, but within Together resides a intense contemplation about our choices in loving one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for over ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a particular energy to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when Millie and Tim transition from the metropolis to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical story element, sure, but that’s mostly where the tropes end. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their new home, a storm hits, and the two discover an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity starts to affect the couple. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing bits of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and removed from his network of friends. He dreads the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is amplified by the fact he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in Together avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters confront the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships over a long period. Deep down, they still love one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the metaphor avoids being overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your other half and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on the streaming service Hulu now.
