Consider this a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate the horror genre: Settle in with your loved one and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut on Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like standard biological terror, but within Together exists a profound meditation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Directorial Debut Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, partners that have remained a couple for a decade. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The narrative begins when Millie and Tim move from the metropolis to the countryside for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical plot device, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the tropes end. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their new home, a storm hits, and the protagonists discover an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and eventually escaping, a mysterious influence takes hold of the couple. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The whole movie is a methodically building fright fest, blending elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something grotesque). The director skillfully blends these components seamlessly and wraps them up in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is exclusively the two lead actors, and they masterfully render manifold depths to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and emotional bond is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve moved to the country and removed from his support system. He is terrified of the concept of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and relies on Millie for getting around.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together avoids making one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
The couple confront the type of challenges that come with long-term unions a decade in. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory avoids being hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights serve the other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a strong argument for remaining unattached. On the other hand, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you think about commitment. Will the finale sow anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply look at your partner and state, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can embark on right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu now.
