Consider this a dare for long-term couples who appreciate the horror genre: Settle in with your significant other and stream Together. The 2025 indie hit just made its online premiere on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it might appear like typical biological terror, but beneath Together exists a profound contemplation about our choices in loving one another.
A Directorial Debut Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for director Michael Shanks. It features actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Tim and Millie, an unmarried couple that have remained a couple for over ten years. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie bring a particular energy to their characters, skillfully embodying both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The narrative starts when the couple relocate from the metropolis to the countryside for Millie’s job. A commonly used story element, sure, but that’s largely where the conventions end. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the pair’s relationship as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While trekking near their rural residence, a tempest descends, and Millie and Tim fall into an underground cave. After a night spent there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity starts to affect the couple. This force compels a supernatural closeness between them that goes exceeding typical partnership.
The complete narrative is a methodically building horror experience, interspersing bits of dreamlike terrors, unsettling (but tastefully done) biological grotesqueries, and genuinely funny dialogue (sometimes amidst something disturbing). Michael Shanks skillfully blends these components seamlessly and presents them in a consistently growing sense of impending doom.
Layered Performances
A significant portion of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her subconscious resentment of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career slowly bubbles to the surface.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He is terrified of the notion of totally forfeiting his personal autonomy in another person. This fear is amplified by the reality he lacks a driver's license and is dependent on Millie for getting around.
The film's most intelligent aspect is that he refrains from painting either of his characters the obvious villain.
The couple grapple with the kind of problems that come with any relationship over a long period. At their core, they continue to care for each other. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their bond.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the otherworldly presence in Together represent these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to another person, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or self-important. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes provide a perfect parallel to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the frights and the fights serve the other symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s final act, which remains unspoiled, has created disagreement on the movie's final takeaway about unhealthy partnerships. Accounts suggest that those not in relationships have seen the movie as a powerful case for staying single. On the other hand, certain partners having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to reconcile.
Regardless of your relationship status, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a great barometer of how you view relationships. Will the ending sow anxiety and horror, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? 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 exploration you can experience right now.
Together is streaming on Hulu's platform at present.
