We present a dare for partners in committed relationships who enjoy the horror genre: Settle in with your partner and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it might appear like typical body horror, but beneath Together lies a intense examination about our choices in loving our partners.
A Directorial Debut Investigating Partnership Complexities
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. United in marriage in actuality in 2017, the two stars infuse a special spark to their roles, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative starts when Tim and Millie transition from the big city to the rural area for Millie’s job. A familiar plot device, of course, but that’s largely where the cliches end. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their new home, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the duo. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes exceeding simple connection.
The whole movie is a slow burn of scares, weaving in elements of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes in the middle of something horrific). The director weaves these elements together neatly and presents them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is deteriorating due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to pursue anything but his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his support system. He dreads the notion of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect in this movie avoids making either of his characters the clear bad guy.
The couple face the sort of issues that are inherent in most partnerships a decade in. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these concerns of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory avoids being overly obvious or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights serve the other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that single viewers have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, some couples who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you identify in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and say, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can experience at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu now.
