We present a dare for partners in committed relationships who enjoy the horror genre: Settle in with your significant other and view Together. The 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it may seem like typical physical horror, but beneath Together lies a profound contemplation about our choices in loving one another.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together marks the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, the two stars bring a unique chemistry to their roles, masterfully depicting both the good and bad of a committed partnership.
The narrative starts when the couple relocate from the metropolis to the rural area for professional reasons. A commonly used story element, of course, but that’s primarily where the cliches cease. Together evolves into as much a examination of mental states of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While walking near their rural residence, a violent storm occurs, and the two discover an underground cave. After spending the night there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity begins influencing the duo. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying horror experience, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, gross (but never too gross) biological grotesqueries, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes amidst something horrific). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components neatly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray countless layers 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 focus on anything other than his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve moved to the country and distant from his social circle. He is terrified of the notion of totally forfeiting his individual identity in Millie. This fear is intensified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he never makes Tim or Millie the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie face the sort of issues that are inherent in long-term unions after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and are vulnerable at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory avoids being overly obvious or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the horror and the drama enhance each other symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has left audiences divided on the film’s ultimate message about codependent relationships. It has been said that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a strong argument for staying single. Meanwhile, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you see yourself in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is available to watch on Hulu as of this moment.