Here's a dare for long-term couples who appreciate horror films: Get comfortable with your significant other and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on Hulu. Outwardly, it could look like typical body horror, but beneath Together lies a profound examination about how we choose to love one another.
An Introductory Film Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together represents the debut feature-length film for director Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have been together for a decade. United in marriage in real life in 2017, the two stars contribute a special spark to their roles, skillfully embodying both the good and bad of a long-term relationship.
The story starts when the couple move from the urban environment to the country for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical story element, sure, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together transforms into as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a film about physical terror.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their new home, a storm hits, and the protagonists fall into an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a strange force begins influencing the pair. This force creates a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The entire film is a slow burn of scares, interspersing moments of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but tastefully done) body horror, and genuinely funny exchanges (sometimes in the middle of something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together seamlessly and wraps them up in a slowly mounting atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A large part of Together is solely the two lead actors, and they masterfully render numerous complexities to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Conversely, Tim experiences isolation and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve moved to the country and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is intensified by the fact he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together avoids making Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
The couple grapple with the type of challenges that come with most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these fears of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the symbolism avoids being hamfisted or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a perfect parallel to the relationship narrative. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a compelling reason for staying single. Conversely, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could act as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you recognize your own traits in one of the characters and feel frustration, or simply turn to your partner and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an experiment you can undertake today.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform now.
