Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who are fans of the horror genre: Get comfortable with your partner and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like conventional physical horror, but inside Together lies a profound contemplation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars infuse a special spark to their roles, expertly portraying both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The story starts when Tim and Millie relocate from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s largely where the tropes conclude. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim discover an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity takes hold of the couple. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The whole movie is a methodically building of scares, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He is terrified of the idea of completely losing his sense of self in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in Together never makes Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie confront the kind of problems that come with any relationship over a long period. At their core, they continue to care 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 undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the allegory avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that single viewers have seen the movie as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could function as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and feel frustration, or simply turn to your other half and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can experience right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform now.
