We present a dare for partners in committed relationships who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like conventional body horror, but within Together resides a deep contemplation about how we choose to love one another.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, partners that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The story starts when the couple move from the metropolis to the rural area for professional reasons. A commonly used story element, sure, but that’s largely where the tropes conclude. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence takes hold of the duo. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying fright fest, blending moments of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components expertly and presents them in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is exclusively Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and removed from his network of friends. He is terrified of the concept of utterly sacrificing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple grapple with the kind of problems that come with most partnerships over a long period. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, offer support, and open up at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these fears of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to another person, the metaphor does not come across as overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that single viewers have understood the narrative as a powerful case for staying single. Conversely, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could act as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the finale plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your partner and say, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can undertake at this very moment.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
