Consider this a challenge for long-term couples who are fans of horror films: Sit down with your partner and view Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut on Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like typical body horror, but beneath Together exists a profound meditation about the ways we decide to love each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together is the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a unique chemistry to their characters, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The story begins when the couple transition from the metropolis to the rural area for professional reasons. A commonly used story element, of course, but that’s primarily where the conventions end. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and Millie and Tim fall into an hole in the earth. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a mysterious influence begins influencing the duo. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a slow burn horror experience, interspersing bits of fever-dream horrors, unsettling (but not excessively graphic) body horror, and authentically humorous dialogue (sometimes during something grotesque). Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and wraps them up in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his failing musical ambitions gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve relocated rural and distant from his network of friends. He fears the concept of completely losing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the circumstance he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he avoids making one partner or the other the obvious villain.
Both characters face the sort of issues that arise in any relationship over a long period. Fundamentally, they have affection for each other. They share moments of joy, offer support, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Allegory and Meaning
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to a partner, the allegory avoids being overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights serve the other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the film’s ultimate message about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that unattached audience members have seen the movie as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Conversely, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film actually helped them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could act as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale sow anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in one of the characters and yell at the screen, or simply look at your significant other and utter, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can embark on today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu as of this moment.
