Here's a dare for long-term couples who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit recently had its online premiere on Hulu. At first glance, it might appear like conventional biological terror, but within Together resides a intense contemplation about the ways we decide to love each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring The Nuances of Love
Together is the first full-length movie for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It showcases Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Tim and Millie, partners that have been together for over ten years. Married in reality in 2017, the actors bring a special spark to their roles, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The narrative begins when Millie and Tim transition from the big city to the country for professional reasons. A commonly used narrative setup, sure, but that’s mostly where the cliches conclude. Together becomes as much a deep dive into the psyche of the couple's dynamic as it is a body horror flick.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their country house, a violent storm occurs, and the two fall into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the duo. This force induces a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying horror experience, blending bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and authentically humorous exchanges (sometimes amidst something grotesque). Michael Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and wraps them up in a gradually swelling aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they masterfully render countless layers to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Her self-assurance and feeling of intimacy is deteriorating due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to chase only his failing musical ambitions inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and far away from his support system. He fears the concept of utterly sacrificing his sense of self in his partner. This fear is intensified by the fact he can’t drive and relies on Millie for mobility.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he never makes either of his characters the obvious villain.
Tim and Millie face the kind of problems that come with long-term unions a decade in. At their core, they continue to care for one another. They share moments of joy, offer support, and open up at times. But under the surface, there’s an persistent undercurrent of doubt about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together symbolize these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and totally devoting oneself to a partner, the symbolism avoids being hamfisted or heavy-handed. Instead, these visceral horror elements present a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights work together in a mutually beneficial way.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that those not in relationships have interpreted the film as a powerful case for remaining unattached. Meanwhile, certain partners experiencing tension found that the film actually helped them resolve their issues.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own response could function as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the ending plant anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in either protagonist and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your other half and state, “I understand that choice”?
Regardless of the outcome, Together is an experiment you can undertake today.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu now.
