Consider this a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your significant other and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like typical physical horror, but beneath Together exists a profound examination about our choices in loving our partners.
An Introductory Film Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for over ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a particular energy to their characters, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The story starts when the couple relocate from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A familiar story element, sure, but that’s largely where the tropes end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and the protagonists tumble into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence takes hold of the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn horror experience, weaving in bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but never too gross) physical transformations, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). The director weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He is terrified of the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The director's cleverest decision in Together avoids making one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
The couple face the sort of issues that arise in long-term unions after ten years. Deep down, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, some couples experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own response could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending plant anxiety and horror, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply look at your partner and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can embark on right now.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
