Consider this a dare for those in enduring partnerships who appreciate the horror genre: Get comfortable with your significant other and view Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it might appear like typical biological terror, but inside Together exists a deep contemplation about the ways we decide to love our partners.
A Debut Feature Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a committed partnership.
The narrative begins when Tim and Millie transition from the metropolis to the countryside for Millie’s job. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s largely where the cliches cease. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While hiking near their country house, a storm hits, and the two tumble into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence starts to affect the pair. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past simple connection.
The entire film is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in elements of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but never too gross) physical transformations, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only the two lead actors, and they deftly portray countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to pursue anything but his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and distant from his network of friends. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie face the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships over a long period. Fundamentally, they continue to care for one another. They find humor with each other, offer support, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of excessive reliance and fully committing to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a compelling reason for avoiding commitment. On the other hand, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you view relationships. Will the finale plant feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply look at your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can experience today.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
