Here's a challenge for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Sit down with your significant other and view Together. The 2025 indie hit recently had its streaming debut via Hulu. On the surface, it could look like conventional physical horror, but inside Together exists a deep meditation about how we choose to love each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together represents the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a unique chemistry 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 urban environment to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, admittedly, but that’s largely where the cliches cease. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their new home, a storm hits, and the protagonists tumble into an underground cave. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the pair. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying horror experience, weaving in elements of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together expertly and presents them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his network of friends. He is terrified of the notion of completely losing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie never makes Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie confront the type of challenges that come with long-term unions after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, offer support, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these concerns of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that single viewers have seen the movie as a compelling reason for staying single. Conversely, certain partners who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can embark on today.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu now.
