Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy horror films: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie recently had its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like typical biological terror, but inside Together lies a deep examination about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together marks the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have been together for ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the actors infuse a particular energy to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The plot begins when Tim and Millie relocate from the metropolis to the rural area for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical story element, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions cease. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship 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 subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the couple. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a slow burn horror experience, blending bits of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A great deal of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie’s confidence and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He fears the concept of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in another person. This fear is amplified by the fact he can’t drive and relies on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he avoids making Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie grapple with the type of challenges that are inherent in any relationship a decade in. At their core, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these fears of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. It has been said that single viewers have seen the movie as a powerful case for staying single. On the other hand, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you think about commitment. Will the ending sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply turn to your partner and say, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
