Here's a dare for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its streaming debut via Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like standard body horror, but beneath Together lies a profound contemplation about how we choose to love one another.
An Introductory Film Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The story starts when the couple transition from the urban environment to the country for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, sure, but that’s largely where the tropes end. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and the protagonists fall into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence begins influencing the couple. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The entire film is a slow burn of scares, interspersing elements of dreamlike terrors, gross (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something horrific). Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is only the performances of its stars, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and distant from his network of friends. He fears the idea of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he avoids making Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the type of challenges that are inherent in most partnerships a decade in. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They share moments of joy, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the allegory 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 enhance each other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that single viewers have understood the narrative as a strong argument for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could function as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply turn to your significant other and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can experience today.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu at present.
