Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who enjoy horror films: Settle in with your loved one and view Together. The 2025 indie hit recently had its launch on a streaming platform on Hulu. On the surface, it may seem like standard body horror, but beneath Together exists a deep meditation about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together represents the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have been together for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The story starts when Tim and Millie relocate from the urban environment to the country for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the tropes end. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their country house, a storm hits, and the protagonists tumble into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a strange force takes hold of the duo. This force creates a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing bits of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts neatly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and removed from his support system. He fears the concept of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for mobility.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie never makes either of his characters the obvious villain.
The couple face the sort of issues that come with long-term unions a decade in. Deep down, they still love each other. They share moments of joy, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory avoids being hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a ideal counterpart to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Conversely, some couples having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the conclusion sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and say, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform as of this moment.
