Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your significant other and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit recently had its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it might appear like typical physical horror, but beneath Together resides a deep examination about the ways we decide to love our partners.
An Introductory Film Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars contribute a particular energy to their characters, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The narrative starts when Tim and Millie transition from the metropolis to the countryside for professional reasons. A familiar story element, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the cliches conclude. Together becomes as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While hiking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists tumble into an underground cave. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the couple. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and distant from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is intensified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie never makes Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
The couple confront the sort of issues that arise in any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together symbolize these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism avoids being hamfisted or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a strong argument for staying single. Meanwhile, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could function as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply turn to your other half and say, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can embark on right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
