Here's a dare for long-term couples who are fans of horror films: Get comfortable with your significant other and view Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its streaming debut on Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like standard body horror, but within Together resides a intense examination about how we choose to love each other.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for over ten years. Married in actuality in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their characters, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The plot starts when the couple relocate from the big city to the country for professional reasons. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, admittedly, but that’s primarily where the tropes cease. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their new home, a violent storm occurs, and the two tumble into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence starts to affect the pair. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying fright fest, blending elements of hallucinatory nightmares, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Shanks orchestrates these parts expertly and presents them in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they deftly portray countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and far away from his social circle. He dreads the concept of totally forfeiting his individual identity in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and needs Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he never makes Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Both characters confront the type of challenges that arise in any relationship after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of excessive reliance and fully committing to a partner, the allegory avoids being hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments present a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could act as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your partner and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can undertake today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform now.
