We present a test for long-term couples who enjoy horror films: Sit down with your loved one and watch Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its streaming debut on Hulu. At first glance, it may seem like standard biological terror, but inside Together lies a profound contemplation about how we choose to love our partners.
A Directorial Debut Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together represents the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It stars Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have stayed together for over ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, the actors bring a unique chemistry to their characters, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The narrative begins when the couple transition from the big city to the country for Millie’s job. A commonly used narrative setup, of course, but that’s mostly where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a film about physical terror.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity takes hold of the duo. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes well past simple connection.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying of scares, interspersing elements of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny interactions (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). Michael Shanks orchestrates these parts seamlessly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A significant portion of Together is only the two lead actors, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and feeling of intimacy is suffering due to a distance. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and distant from his support system. He fears the notion of completely losing his sense of self in Millie. This fear is amplified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie never makes either of his characters the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie confront the kind of problems that are inherent in most partnerships a decade in. At their core, they still love each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the metaphor does not come across as clumsy or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a brilliant analogue to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about enmeshed dynamics. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a strong argument for remaining unattached. Conversely, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion plant anxiety and horror, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you identify in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your significant other and say, “I understand that choice”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an exploration you can undertake right now.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
