Consider this a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Get comfortable with your partner and stream Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like conventional biological terror, but within Together lies a deep examination about our choices in loving each other.
A Debut Feature Delving into The Nuances of Love
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for ten years. Married in real life in 2017, the two stars infuse a unique chemistry to their portrayals, skillfully embodying both the joys and frustrations of a enduring union.
The story starts when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the countryside for Millie’s job. A familiar story element, admittedly, but that’s mostly where the tropes end. Together transforms into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the protagonists discover an underground cave. After being trapped overnight there and finally finding a way out, a supernatural entity begins influencing the couple. This force induces a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past typical partnership.
The whole movie is a gradually intensifying horror experience, blending bits of hallucinatory nightmares, gross (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and authentically humorous interactions (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and wraps them up in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Her self-assurance and emotional bond is suffering due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his hesitance to chase only his floundering music career gradually emerges.
Tim, on the other hand experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve left the city and far away from his social circle. He dreads the idea of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the fact he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
The couple face the sort of issues that come with most partnerships after ten years. Fundamentally, they continue to care for each other. They share moments of joy, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an inescapable current of uncertainty about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these concerns of codependency and giving oneself over to another person, the allegory never feels clumsy or self-important. Instead, these visceral horror elements offer a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which remains unspoiled, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that unattached audience members have understood the narrative as a strong argument for remaining unattached. On the other hand, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the conclusion sow a sense of discomfort and fear, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? 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”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can embark on right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu now.
