Here's a test for partners in committed relationships who enjoy horror films: Sit down with your loved one and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it could look like standard physical horror, but within Together lies a profound meditation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together marks the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for a decade. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their characters, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The plot begins when the couple relocate from the metropolis to the rural area for her career. A familiar story element, of course, but that’s mostly where the cliches end. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While walking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a strange force begins influencing the pair. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past simple connection.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying fright fest, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but never too gross) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). The director skillfully blends these components neatly and delivers them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A great deal of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray manifold depths to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and distant from his network of friends. He fears the idea of completely losing his sense of self in another person. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the type of challenges that arise in long-term unions after ten years. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their future together.
Allegory and Meaning
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these fears of excessive reliance and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism avoids being hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other symbiotically.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which won’t be spoiled here, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have understood the narrative as a powerful case for remaining unattached. On the other hand, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the finale inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your partner and say, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can embark on today.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform now.
