We present a dare for partners in committed relationships who appreciate horror films: Settle in with your loved one and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it may seem like standard physical horror, but beneath Together exists a deep contemplation about our choices in loving each other.
An Introductory Film Investigating Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as a couple named Tim and Millie, a pair who are not married that have been together for a decade. Having wed in actuality in 2017, the actors contribute a unique chemistry to their characters, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The narrative starts when Millie and Tim move from the big city to the countryside for her career. A commonly used plot device, of course, but that’s largely where the conventions conclude. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the two discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a strange force starts to affect the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding emotional intimacy.
The whole movie is a slow burn horror experience, interspersing moments of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something grotesque). Shanks weaves these elements together neatly and delivers them in a gradually swelling atmosphere of fear.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is exclusively the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and removed from his network of friends. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is intensified by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in this movie never makes Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie grapple with the type of challenges that come with any relationship a decade in. At their core, they continue to care for each other. They still laugh together, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But beneath it all, there’s an persistent current of uncertainty about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the paranormal elements in Together represent these anxieties of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism avoids being clumsy or pretentious. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments offer a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that unattached audience members have interpreted the film as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Conversely, a few pairs experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could function as a telling indicator of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale sow anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can embark on right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
