Here's a challenge for long-term couples who appreciate the horror genre: Get comfortable with your significant other and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit just made its launch on a streaming platform on the Hulu service. Outwardly, it may seem like conventional body horror, but within Together exists a profound contemplation about our choices in loving our partners.
A Debut Feature Exploring Relationship Dynamics
Together is the debut feature-length film for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It features the real-life married couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie as Millie and Tim, an unmarried couple that have been together for a decade. Married in real life in 2017, Franco and Brie infuse a special spark to their characters, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a long-term relationship.
The story commences when the couple relocate from the metropolis to the country for her career. A familiar narrative setup, of course, but that’s largely where the cliches end. Together evolves into as much a psychological exploration of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
An Otherworldly Trigger
While trekking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim tumble into an underground cave. After spending the night there and managing to escape, a strange force starts to affect the duo. This force compels a paranormal intimacy between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The entire film is a gradually intensifying fright fest, weaving in elements of dreamlike terrors, disturbing (but tastefully done) body horror, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes in the middle of something disturbing). The director weaves these elements together seamlessly and delivers them in a consistently growing aura of dread.
Nuanced Portrayals
A large part of Together is solely Brie and Franco, and they deftly portray countless layers to the partnership at the film's core. Millie’s confidence and feeling of intimacy is waning due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to pursue anything but his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and separated by Millie, who’s the reason they’ve left the city and removed from his support system. He dreads the idea of utterly sacrificing his personal autonomy in his partner. This fear is amplified by the fact he can’t drive and needs Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together never makes Tim or Millie the clear bad guy.
Both characters face the type of challenges that are inherent in any relationship a decade in. Fundamentally, they have affection for one another. They still laugh together, offer support, and share intimately at times. But under the surface, there’s an inescapable feeling of questioning about their relationship.
Symbolism and Metaphor
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these concerns of unhealthy attachment and giving oneself over to a partner, the symbolism never feels clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these ickier, creepier moments provide a ideal counterpart to the interpersonal storytelling. Both the supernatural and the personal work together symbiotically.
A Controversial Conclusion
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has sparked debate on the movie's final takeaway about enmeshed dynamics. It has been said that single viewers have interpreted the film as a strong argument for avoiding commitment. Meanwhile, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ultimately assisted them make up.
Whether you’re single or coupled up, your own interpretation could potentially serve as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the finale inspire a sense of discomfort and fear, or a positive outlook on love? Will you identify in either protagonist and yell at the screen, or simply turn to your other half and state, “We could get through that together”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can undertake today.
Together is currently playing on Hulu at present.
