Consider this a test for partners in committed relationships who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your partner and view Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it might appear like standard physical horror, but beneath Together lies a intense contemplation about how we choose to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together represents the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for over ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a special spark to their characters, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The narrative begins when Millie and Tim relocate from the urban environment to the countryside for professional reasons. A familiar story element, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the two discover an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a strange force starts to affect the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a slow burn fright fest, weaving in elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but never too gross) physical transformations, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and removed from his support system. He fears the notion of totally forfeiting his individual identity in another person. This fear is amplified by the fact he can’t drive and needs Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move is that he refrains from painting one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
The couple face the type of challenges that come with most partnerships a decade in. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and are vulnerable at times. But below this facade, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and fully committing to a partner, the allegory never feels overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a brilliant analogue to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could act as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply look at your significant other and state, “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.
