Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who enjoy horror films: Get comfortable with your significant other and view Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. At first glance, it could look like conventional biological terror, but beneath Together resides a intense examination about the ways we decide to love each other.
An Introductory Film Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the two stars infuse a special spark to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot commences when Tim and Millie relocate from the big city to the countryside for her career. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s primarily where the tropes cease. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and the protagonists fall into an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity begins influencing the duo. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes during something grotesque). The director orchestrates these parts neatly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is waning due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He fears the concept of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie refrains from painting one partner or the other the clear bad guy.
Tim and Millie confront the type of challenges that come with any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they continue to care for each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together represent these anxieties of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the allegory does not come across as hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, some couples who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could function as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply look at your significant other and say, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu now.
