Here's a challenge for those in enduring partnerships who are fans of horror films: Settle in with your significant other and stream Together. The critically acclaimed 2025 movie has now made its online premiere on the Hulu service. On the surface, it may seem like typical body horror, but within Together resides a deep examination about how we choose to love one another.
An Introductory Film Investigating The Nuances of Love
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, a pair who are not married that have stayed together for over ten years. Having wed in real life in 2017, the actors infuse a unique chemistry to their roles, expertly portraying both the strengths and weaknesses of a enduring union.
The plot starts when the couple transition from the big city to the rural area for Millie’s job. A familiar narrative setup, of course, but that’s mostly where the conventions conclude. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their new home, a tempest descends, and the two tumble into an subterranean cavern. After a night spent there and finally finding a way out, a mysterious influence begins influencing the pair. This force induces a paranormal intimacy between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building fright fest, blending bits of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but never too gross) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic interactions (sometimes during something horrific). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and presents them in a gradually swelling sense of impending doom.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his floundering music career gradually emerges.
In contrast, Tim's character experiences isolation and cut off by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and removed from his network of friends. He dreads the concept of totally forfeiting his sense of self in his partner. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he can’t drive and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
The director's cleverest decision in this movie avoids making Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie grapple with the sort of issues that arise in any relationship over a long period. At their core, they have affection for each other. They find humor with each other, offer support, and are vulnerable at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together symbolize these concerns of excessive reliance and fully committing to a partner, the symbolism never feels clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a brilliant analogue to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together symbiotically.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about codependent relationships. Accounts suggest that single viewers have interpreted the film as a compelling reason for remaining unattached. On the other hand, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film ultimately assisted them resolve their issues.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own reaction could act as a telling indicator of how you view relationships. Will the ending plant a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and yell at the screen, or simply glance toward your significant other and state, “I’d do that for you”?
Whatever the case may be, Together is an experiment you can embark on at this very moment.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
