Here's a dare for partners in committed relationships who enjoy horror films: Sit down with your partner and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere via Hulu. Outwardly, it might appear like typical biological terror, but within Together resides a intense meditation about the ways we decide to love one another.
An Introductory Film Delving into Partnership Complexities
Together represents the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for ten years. United in marriage in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a unique chemistry to their portrayals, expertly portraying both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story starts when Millie and Tim move from the urban environment to the rural area for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical story element, admittedly, but that’s largely where the cliches end. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While hiking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim tumble into an hole in the earth. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity takes hold of the pair. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying horror experience, weaving in elements of hallucinatory nightmares, unsettling (but never too gross) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together expertly and wraps them up in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Complex Characterizations
A significant portion of Together is solely the performances of its stars, and they deftly portray countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a lack of intimacy. Her underlying frustration of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his struggling artistic pursuits slowly bubbles to the surface.
In contrast, Tim's character feels trapped and cut off by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve relocated rural and far away from his social circle. He dreads the notion of totally forfeiting his sense of self in his partner. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and needs Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes Tim or Millie the definite antagonist.
Both characters confront the type of challenges that arise in any relationship after ten years. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They still laugh together, provide solace, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an inescapable undercurrent of doubt about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of excessive reliance and giving oneself over to a partner, the allegory never feels overly obvious or pretentious. Instead, these visceral horror elements provide a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights enhance each other in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, some couples having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to resolve their issues.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own reaction could function as a revealing measure of how you perceive partnership. Will the finale inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in either protagonist and feel frustration, or simply turn to your other half and state, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can experience today.
Together is currently playing on the streaming service Hulu now.
