Consider this a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy horror films: Sit down with your significant other and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit recently had its streaming debut on the Hulu service. At first glance, it might appear like typical biological terror, but beneath Together lies a deep contemplation about how we choose to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together is the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for a decade. Married in real life in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their roles, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when the couple relocate from the urban environment to the rural area for her career. A familiar narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the cliches cease. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an hole in the earth. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the pair. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a slow burn fright fest, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and distant from his support system. He fears the idea of completely losing his individual identity in another person. This fear is intensified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for mobility.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple confront the kind of problems that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these fears of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the symbolism does not come across as hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a strong argument for remaining unattached. On the other hand, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could function as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the finale plant anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply turn to your significant other and utter, “We could get through that together”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform now.
