Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its streaming debut via Hulu. On the surface, it could look like standard body horror, but beneath Together lies a intense examination about how we choose to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have been together for ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their roles, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a enduring union.
The narrative commences when Tim and Millie move from the urban environment to the country for her career. A commonly used story element, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the conventions conclude. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the protagonists discover an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a strange force begins influencing the duo. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but never too gross) body horror, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his support system. He fears the notion of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is intensified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in Together never makes either of his characters the definite antagonist.
The couple face the sort of issues that come with long-term unions a decade in. At their core, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could act as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply look at your partner and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an exploration you can experience right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
