Consider this a test for long-term couples who enjoy the horror genre: Sit down with your significant other and watch Together. This 2025 indie hit has now made its online premiere via Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like standard biological terror, but within Together resides a profound examination about our choices in loving one another.
An Introductory Film Delving into Relationship Dynamics
Together marks the introductory feature for filmmaker Michael Shanks. It stars actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, partners that have stayed together for over ten years. Married in reality in 2017, the two stars infuse a special spark to their characters, masterfully depicting both the joys and frustrations of a long-term relationship.
The story begins when the couple relocate from the big city to the rural area for professional reasons. A commonly used plot device, of course, but that’s mostly where the conventions cease. Together becomes as much a examination of mental states of the partnership as it is a movie featuring biological frights.
A Paranormal Spark
While walking near their rural residence, a storm hits, and Millie and Tim fall into an subterranean cavern. After being trapped overnight there and managing to escape, a supernatural entity begins influencing the pair. This force creates a otherworldly bond between them that goes far beyond emotional intimacy.
The complete narrative is a gradually intensifying fright fest, weaving in bits of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes amidst something horrific). The director skillfully blends these components expertly and delivers them in a consistently growing atmosphere of fear.
Layered Performances
A great deal of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate numerous complexities to the dynamic between Tim and Millie. Millie's sense of self and emotional bond is suffering due to a emotional and physical gap. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his reluctance to chase only his floundering music career inexorably rises.
Conversely, Tim feels trapped and separated by Millie, who’s the impetus they’ve left the city and far away from his support system. He dreads the idea of completely losing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is amplified by the circumstance he does not operate a vehicle and is dependent on Millie for transportation.
Shanks’ smartest move in Together never makes one partner or the other the definite antagonist.
Tim and Millie grapple with the type of challenges that are inherent in most partnerships over a long period. At their core, they still love one another. They find humor with each other, provide solace, and open up at times. But beneath it all, there’s an unavoidable current of uncertainty about their relationship.
Thematic Depth
While the supernatural forces in Together act as a metaphor for these anxieties of unhealthy attachment and fully committing to another person, the metaphor avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes present a perfect parallel to the character-driven drama. Both the supernatural and the personal enhance each other in harmony.
A Debated Finale
Together’s ending, which is best experienced firsthand, has created disagreement on the story's concluding statement about unhealthy partnerships. It has been said that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a strong argument for staying single. Meanwhile, a few pairs having disagreements found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own response could act as a telling indicator of how you think about commitment. Will the ending inspire feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a heartwarming sense of hope? Will you see yourself in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply turn to your significant other and utter, “I’d do that for you”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an test you can embark on today.
Together is available to watch on Hulu's platform now.
